Tooth Gems in Essen-Rüttenscheid: Professional Application

Tooth gems are small decorative elements visibly attached to a tooth.

Common terms include:

• tooth gem,
• dental gem,
• tooth jewel,
• or dental jewellery.

Unlike veneers, crowns or fillings, tooth gems do not restore a defect and do not medically alter the shape of the tooth. The treatment is performed solely for aesthetic decoration.

A suitable tooth surface is important for superficial adhesive bonding.

Before placement, the following should therefore be assessed:

• Is the tooth free from caries?
• Is the visible enamel surface intact?
• Are there areas of demineralisation or unusual discolouration?
• Is there a large filling or another restoration in the planned area?
• Are the surrounding gums free from irritation?
• Will the jewellery contact the opposing tooth when biting?
• Can the area be cleaned reliably afterwards?

Not every visible tooth is automatically a suitable location for a tooth gem.

If the intended tooth first requires diagnosis or treatment of a dental problem, cosmetic placement should not take priority.

This may apply, for example, in the presence of:

• active caries,
• clearly damaged or demineralised enamel,
• untreated tooth fractures,
• inflamed gums in the relevant area,
• or a position where the jewellery would interfere unfavourably with the bite.

Crowns, veneers and other restored surfaces also do not provide the same bonding conditions as natural enamel. Whether a tooth gem can be placed appropriately on such surfaces therefore requires separate assessment.

The exact technique depends on the material and type of jewellery used.

With a typical adhesive technique, the tooth surface is first cleaned and prepared. The enamel is then conditioned for bonding, and the jewellery is attached using dental adhesive or composite materials intended for this purpose.

The principle is similar to the adhesive attachment of other small dental components to enamel.

The materials used by the practice in an individual case depend on the selected jewellery and the clinical situation.

With a conventional surface-bonded tooth gem, no cavity is prepared as would be done for a filling.

The jewellery is bonded onto the tooth surface.

However, this does not mean that the tooth surface remains completely untreated: the enamel is chemically conditioned to create a reliable adhesive bond.

For this reason, even a small cosmetic procedure should not be carried out with craft glue or products that are not intended for use in the mouth.

Such a guarantee would not be responsible.

Even professionally applied tooth gems create an additional surface that must be kept clean and can carry specific risks.

Possible problems include:

• increased plaque accumulation around the edge of the jewellery,
• more difficult cleaning,
• caries in the surrounding area if oral hygiene is inadequate,
• irritation of adjacent gums or oral mucosa,
• detachment of the jewellery,
• damage to the jewellery,
• or damage to the tooth surface if removal is carried out improperly.

The level of risk depends, among other factors, on placement, material, oral hygiene, duration of wear and functional loading.

Any additional irregularity on an otherwise smooth tooth surface can make cleaning more difficult.

Deposits may accumulate more readily at the transition between the jewellery, bonding material and tooth than on a completely smooth enamel surface.

This does not mean that every tooth gem will automatically cause caries.

It does mean, however, that oral hygiene around the jewellery should be particularly thorough.

The teeth should continue to be brushed regularly. The jewellery itself, and especially its margins, should not be skipped during cleaning.

Important measures include:

• thorough daily oral hygiene,
• careful cleaning around the edges of the tooth gem,
• interdental cleaning as usual,
• and regular dental check-ups.

If deposits repeatedly build up around the jewellery or the adjacent gums repeatedly bleed or become irritated, the area should be examined.

Professional teeth cleaning can supplement individual preventive care where clinically appropriate.

More about professional teeth cleaning

After adhesive placement, the tooth gem is checked to ensure that it is stable and does not interfere with the bite.

The advice given immediately after treatment depends on the bonding material used and the specific clinical situation.

For this reason, this page does not provide a universal list of rigid food restrictions or fixed waiting periods.

Regardless of the bonding system used, the jewellery should not be deliberately levered with fingers or hard objects, nor should you intentionally bite down on it.

There is no reliable period that can be guaranteed.

How long the jewellery remains attached may be influenced by factors including:

• size and shape,
• bonding surface,
• position on the tooth,
• bite contacts,
• clenching or grinding,
• oral hygiene,
• eating habits,
• and the bonding system used.

The practice therefore does not provide a general durability guarantee based on a particular number of months or years.

Early detachment is possible, as is a longer period of wear.

A loose tooth gem should not be reattached at home using household glue or superglue.

A dental assessment is appropriate.

This allows us to check:

• whether the tooth remains intact,
• whether bonding material is still present on the surface,
• why the jewellery became detached,
• and whether reattachment is appropriate.

A completely detached small piece of jewellery may be swallowed without being noticed. Difficulty breathing or suspected aspiration, however, requires urgent medical assessment.

Yes. A superficially bonded tooth gem can generally be removed professionally.

The process involves more than simply taking off the jewellery.

Any remaining bonding material should then be assessed and removed or smoothed so that the tooth surface is left as clean and easy to maintain as possible.

Attempting to lever off or grind away the jewellery yourself should be avoided because this may damage the enamel.

This cannot be predicted for every tooth.

During the period of wear, tooth surfaces may change as a result of diet, staining substances and natural ageing. The area underneath the attached jewellery is not exposed to these influences in exactly the same way.

In addition, bonding material may remain on the surface after removal and must first be professionally cleared away.

The tooth surface is therefore checked after removal and, where necessary, smoothed or polished.

No.

A tooth gem is attached to the surface of a tooth.

An oral piercing, by contrast, usually passes through soft tissue such as the lip or tongue and has a different risk profile.

Both are sometimes grouped under the term “oral jewellery”, but they should not be considered medically equivalent.

The current price guide is approximately €40.

This is not a binding fixed price for every possible design.

The final cost may depend on:

• the jewellery selected,
• whether the intended tooth surface first requires examination or treatment,
• and the actual work involved.

The specific cost of the chosen option can be clarified before treatment.

Bleaching and tooth gems are two different cosmetic treatments.

If both are desired, the sequence should be planned in advance. A tooth gem that has already been attached changes the accessible tooth surface, while bleaching acts on the colour of natural tooth structure.

For this reason, no general same-day rule is promised.

The appropriate sequence depends on the starting situation and the intended result.

Not every patient automatically requires a full professional teeth cleaning simply because they would like a tooth gem.

The bonding surface must, however, be clean and clinically suitable.

If relevant plaque, calculus or inflammatory findings are present, it may be appropriate to address these first or to carry out professional cleaning.

Whether a full PZR is required is determined according to the individual findings.

Tooth gems are purely cosmetic decorations bonded adhesively to the tooth surface.

Important points:

• The intended tooth should be assessed before placement.
• With the usual surface technique, no filling cavity is required.
• The enamel is nevertheless prepared and a dental bonding system is used.
• Plaque can accumulate more easily around the margins of the jewellery.
• Good oral hygiene and regular checks therefore remain important.
• Tooth gems are not risk-free and their durability cannot be guaranteed.
• Loosening, reattachment and removal should be assessed professionally.
• Household glue and superglue should never be used on teeth.
• The current price guide at the practice is approximately €40, without a fixed-price guarantee.

Further information:

Treatments at the practice Professional teeth cleaning

There is currently no up-to-date German AWMF guideline that comprehensively regulates the placement, care and complications of tooth gems.

The medical assessment on this page has therefore been deliberately conservative and is based on professional dental literature and peer-reviewed publications on tooth gems and oral jewellery. Recurring topics include adhesive bonding to enamel, the importance of good oral hygiene and possible local complications such as plaque retention, caries, soft-tissue irritation or detachment of the jewellery.

Where the evidence does not allow a reliable statement — particularly regarding individual durability — no fixed figure or guarantee is provided.

Editorial review date: 10 August 2026. This page does not replace an individual dental examination before cosmetic placement.