Tooth Gems in Las Vegas: Shine You Can Keep
What Are Tooth Gems? Las Vegas Locals Are Into This
Tooth gems are small gems or pendants attached directly to the surface of your tooth. No drilling. No needles. Just a little bit of glitter that shines every time you grin. We attach them using a dental adhesive that is the same adhesive used for orthodontic brackets. The gem is attached directly to your enamel, lying flat against it so that it's smooth enough to not really get noticed by your tongue after day 1. People usually choose their canine tooth or one of their premolars, but you can have a gem on any tooth of your choice! That's the fun part.
So what's the deal with these teeth gems? Las Vegas loves them! We are in a city that loves a good smile. You're out on Fremont Street, you're at a pool party on top of a roof, you're at dinner and you are posting pictures of your night. That little tiny gem on your tooth makes you look extra, you know that extra something you don't know the name of? That subtle, flashy sparkle. We have done these in the thousands, and the people that come in are very diverse!
- People in Summerlin who want something classy and minimal for everyday
- Tourists who want a good Vegas souvenir but nothing that will give you a hangover
- Entertainers and artists who need a tooth gem to shine bright on the stage
- Fans and followers who don't want to get into anything extreme with a tooth gem
Our specialty! If you've been looking on TikTok for hours on the subject but you're afraid, you're our person! Welcome, no judgment here, just a positive vibe and a steady hand. The procedure only takes 15 minutes to 20 minutes, you can pick out your gem, we prepare the tooth and place the gem for you, you put it under the light and you're finished, no pain, we promise, it doesn't hurt AT ALL! People are always surprised at how quick it is, expecting a lot more. The gem you place will stay on as long as you wish! If you eat and drink and brush, it's still going to be right there! You get to choose something that will make you smile more!
Picking the Right Style of Tooth Gems for Your Smile
Oh, this is always my favorite part! You'll come into the shop thinking you want a tooth gem but have no idea what will look good. Totally understandable! We have placed thousands of these, so in like ten seconds of looking at your smile, we can tell what you need. But it's always nice to come in with an idea. First up: size! A tooth gem in the canine is very discreet, just a sparkle to see. Tooth gem dead in the middle of your tooth? That’s a statement. Neither is wrong. It’s about what feels like you. We get a lot of folks from the Summerlin area who want something understated for work, then we get someone headed to Fremont Street who wants the biggest gem we carry. Both leave happy.
What to Think About Before Your Appointment
Here are a few things that’ll help you narrow it down fast:
- Your tooth shape and spacing. Some teeth have more flat surface to work with. We’ll tell you if a gem will sit right or look off.
- Crystal vs. gold vs. colored stones. Clear crystals catch light like crazy. Gold charms add a warm, vintage feel. Colored gems pop against white teeth.
- Placement. Upper canines are the most popular spot we see. But lateral incisors and front teeth hit different depending on your smile line.
- Your daily life. If you’re on camera a lot or work in hospitality here in Las Vegas, you might want something that sparkles without screaming.
Nine times out of ten, people pick the gem that caught their eye on social media, we hold it up to their tooth, and it just clicks. But sometimes what looked amazing in a photo doesn’t suit your particular smile. That’s why we keep a full tray of options on hand. And ? Don’t overthink it. A tooth gem isn’t permanent. If you want to switch styles later, we can do that. The whole point is to have fun with it, try something that makes you grin a little wider when you catch yourself in the mirror. We’ll walk you through every option before anything touches your teeth.
How to Prepare for Your Tooth Gem Appointment in Las Vegas
Most people overthink this part. Good news: getting ready for tooth gems is about as low-stress as it gets. The biggest thing you can do? Show up with clean teeth. Brush well before you come in. Floss too. We’re bonding a crystal directly to your enamel, so a clean surface makes all the difference. If you had a dental cleaning recently, even better. But don’t stress about scheduling one just for this. A solid brush-and-floss session that morning works fine. Here’s what else helps before your appointment:
- Skip the lipstick or heavy lip gloss. It gets in the way and we’ll just ask you to wipe it off anyway.
- Eat beforehand. You’ll want to avoid food for about an hour after, so don’t show up hungry.
- Know roughly which tooth you want. We’ll help you decide for sure, but having a general idea speeds things up.
- Bring a photo if you’ve got inspo. Screenshots from Instagram, a pic of your friend’s gem, whatever. We’d love to see which tooth caught your eye.
Typically, 9 out of 10 of our clients pick one of the top canines or either of their two central incisors. Those are definitely the most popular options. The upper front teeth catch light, they shine when you smile, and they’re super easy to flash. But it’s your mouth, it’s your call! You could also go with one of the bottom teeth, or even one of the premolars that doesn’t show until you’re laughing really hard! One more thing that we tell all of our guests in Las Vegas, especially if they’re coming in from the Las Vegas Strip or hanging around in the Summerlin area, is to keep your mouth hydrated while you travel here! Being in the Mojave Desert is a little bit like being in space and there’s not enough water in the air, so your lips and your mouth are going to be drier than usual when you walk through our door. Bring a bottle of water with you, and make sure you drink up on your way over. We’ll find out soon enough if you did. A mouth that’s hydrated and wet is super easy to work with, whereas a mouth that is dried out isn’t. Don’t sweat it either! No needles, no drilling, nothing painful. The vast majority of our clients that come into Love Bite Tattoo in Las Vegas are just a little nervous, but they end up leaving super happy because everything went so well. All the client feels like you’re sticking a piece of glittery confetti to your tooth. It’s just that simple. So get your tea, drink your water, brush your teeth, choose your tooth and let’s get it done!
What happens during a tooth gem application at Love Bite Tattoo?
You sit down, we hang out for a few minutes, and then we get started. The tooth gem process is much faster than most people think. So here’s a rough list of everything that will go down, one by one:
- First, we’ll brush off the tooth you just chose and make sure it’s dry. Don’t worry, we clean thoroughly.
- Then, we apply a dental bonding agent to the selected area. This is just like what they use in orthodontics.
- We place your gem on the spot. You may feel us adjust the placement, but the final adjustment happens now, not later.
- Next, we turn on the light and harden the glue for around 20 seconds. It’s at this stage the gem gets set.
- We make you bite and close your jaw to make sure you feel no discomfort from the gem.
The whole process will take you from fifteen to twenty minutes for one gem. That’s our typical time frame, but we do this at our Las Vegas shop all the time, so we’ve perfected the routine over the years. you have a few burning questions, so let’s knock some of them out. Is it painful? No. At all. No needles, no drilling, no anesthesia needed. You will likely feel a slight bit of pressure when we are putting the gem on, but otherwise there is no pain, not even a little. We see clients all the time that come in worried that it is going to be painful and it doesn’t hurt at all, so they’re very happy., we are not changing your tooth in any way! Our gem simply sticks to your existing enamel. So, you can remove it later at any time and your tooth is going to be pristine, just like when you came in. According to the American Dental Association, when applied properly, dental bonding doesn't hurt healthy tooth enamel. Our little studio close to the Arts District has great lights and a cozy place to sit for this kind of work. You can view the whole process on a mirror if you'd like. Most folks do. There is a special joy in seeing your own diamond sparkle for the first time. So yes. Fast, no pain, no damage. That's the actual tale.
What to do After You Get Your Tooth Gem to keep it Looking Good
Here's where people get careless, then ask why their gem vanished. We discuss aftercare with every single customer before they exit the chair. But I mean. You're happy, you're taking pictures, you're zoning out halfway. So here is a summary you can reference later. Don't eat anything hard or rough for 12 hours after your tooth gem is put on. Opt for something softer. Let the bonding resin harden and stabilize fully. After 12 hours, though, you are pretty much fine, unless you want your gem to come off sooner. Try these tips to it stays on as long as possible:
Everyday things you should do
- Brush around your gem carefully with a soft-bristled brush. Do not brush hard over it like you hate it.
- Don't use whitening toothpaste on the gem tooth. Whitening toothpaste is harsh and weakens the bonding process.
- Don't bite down with the gem tooth. No biting into apples, or biting into corn on the cob, or biting into that massive burrito from that place on Fremont Street. Tear or chop it.
- Don't touch it. Don't pick at it. You're going to want to touch it in the first few days, because it'll be new to your tongue.
Ninety percent of the time that someone comes back to us with their tooth gem falling out prematurely, it's because they were playing with it. Whether it's their fingers, or their tongue, or chewing their pen cap. All of these things create pressure on the bond. You can floss. You can rinse. You can even get a professional dental cleaning in Las Vegas without worrying about it, as long as you let your hygienist know beforehand so they know to work around it with the utmost care. The good news is that dental professionals today encounter tooth gems quite regularly, so the majority of them know exactly how to work around them properly. If your gem does come off, don't freak out. Don't try to re-glue it with some random drugstore glue. You will have made a huge mess then. Just keep the gem, contact us, and we'll add you to our next available appointment. I see this maybe once a month, and it's an easy fix. Keep it looking good for months, or you'll be here again within weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about tooth gems services in NV
How long do tooth gems actually stay on?
A tooth gem can stay on for months or even years with normal eating, drinking, and brushing. The adhesive we use is the same bonding material orthodontists use for braces. It holds strong. That said, habits matter. Chewing on ice, biting your nails, or grinding your teeth can shorten the life of your gem. Most of our clients in Las Vegas come back to refresh or switch styles — not because the gem fell off on its own.
Does getting a tooth gem hurt?
Getting a tooth gem does not hurt at all. There is no drilling, no needles, and nothing that touches anything below your enamel surface. The whole process takes 15 to 20 minutes. We clean the tooth, apply the adhesive, place the gem, and cure it with a small light. You will feel a little pressure and maybe some cool air. That is it. People are genuinely surprised every single time at how easy it is.
Will Las Vegas's dry desert climate affect my tooth gem?
The dry Mojave Desert air can affect your mouth more than you think. Low humidity dries out your lips and teeth faster than most climates. A drier tooth surface right before your appointment can affect how well the adhesive bonds. We always tell guests coming in from the Strip or driving over from Summerlin to drink water on the way here. Show up hydrated and your gem will bond better and last longer.
What should I do right after my tooth gem appointment?
Skip food and drinks for about one hour after your gem is placed. That gives the adhesive time to fully set. After that, you are good to go. Eat normally, brush normally, live your life. You do not need any special toothpaste or mouthwash. Just avoid biting directly into hard foods with the gemmed tooth for the first day or two. By day two, most people forget it is even there — until they catch it sparkling in a photo.
Can I get a tooth gem if I have veneers or dental work?
Yes, you can get a tooth gem on a veneer or a crowned tooth, but we want to know about it before we start. The bonding process is the same, but some dental materials respond a little differently than natural enamel. We will take a quick look and let you know right away if there is anything to think about. We have worked on all kinds of smiles here in Las Vegas, from natural teeth to full cosmetic work, and we will always be straight with you.
What is the best tooth placement for a gem if this is my first time?
The upper canine is the most popular first-time placement we see, and for good reason. It catches light when you smile without being the first thing people notice. It feels subtle but still shows up in photos. The two front center teeth are a bolder move — more visible, more of a statement. We will hold a few options up to your smile before anything is placed. You get to see it first. Nothing goes on your tooth until you love it.
