According to QQ, this trend is increasingly popular, especially among young people who are always looking for unique ways to express themselves. Essentially, it involves engraving or printing designs onto porcelain dental crowns, a type of cosmetic dental restoration used to cover natural teeth to improve both durability and aesthetics.
Xu Tongkai, deputy director of the Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, explained that the designs are not applied directly to the natural teeth. Instead, concave, convex patterns, or colored marks are created on the surface of the artificial crown through various techniques.
Initially, technicians would manually draw on the porcelain crown before firing it. Today, with digital technology, this process has become easier and more convenient. Dental facilities utilize modern methods, ranging from laser cutting on resin crowns to direct printing onto zirconia crowns during the manufacturing process.
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A Chinese social media user posts a photo of 'tooth tattoos'. Photo: GMW |
A Chinese social media user posts a photo of 'tooth tattoos'. Photo: GMW
Capitalizing on this trend, many dental facilities in China are quickly advertising "3D-printed zirconia crowns with customizable surface patterns" as a new selling point. A large private dental hospital in Guangdong even introduced products made with "aerospace material technology," which not only perfectly restore teeth but can also be engraved with letters and printed with patterns on both sides.
On 15/9, a hospital staff member confirmed that the service is being well-received by customers at branches in Guangzhou and Foshan. Patterns and fonts are custom-designed upon request. "The lettering service is offered free of charge with the crown, which costs around 2,000 CNY (approximately 7.4 million VND) each. Many people are getting it done, often couples. They usually engrave their partner's initials or lucky numbers," the hospital representative revealed.
This person also described the process as similar to engraving letters on a watch face and emphasized that customers will be shown an AI simulation beforehand to ensure their satisfaction.
Unlike skin tattoos, which are difficult to remove, tooth tattoos can be changed by simply replacing the crown. Some believe that skin tattoos are outdated, and tooth tattoos are a fresh way to express oneself, while others choose this service simply because it's offered by dental clinics. Instead of a plain crown, they can have a personalized one that helps them stand out or brings them good luck.
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Crowns engraved with letters. Photo: QQ |
Crowns engraved with letters. Photo: QQ
A social media user with the nickname "bingo" shared a photo of her stylish crown engraved with the prominent black character "Than" (Kidney). She explained that she got the crown at a dental hospital in Jinan due to a dental issue. When she learned that the engraving was free, she thought it was "pretty cool" and chose the character "Than". "The cost of the crown was 1,000 CNY (3.7 million VND). It felt a bit bulky at first, but after almost a year, I've gotten used to it," bingo shared.
However, despite its unique appearance, this beautification method hasn't received approval from experts. Doctors at the Implant department of a leading hospital in Shanghai advise against engraving letters or patterns on crowns because it can reduce their durability and increase wear. Experts recommend that people exercise caution and consult with specialists thoroughly before following this trend.
Binh Minh (According to QQ, Sina, Chinapress)
