Dentists are encouraging young people to do their research before acting on a new TikTok trend in which young influencers get their teeth shaved down to short pegs and fitted with crowns.
TikTok users have posted the videos to juxtapose their "shark teeth" against their new smiles, which they often obtained in Turkey or another foreign country. Most dentists posting response videos have pointed out that while many users say their teeth have been shaved down to prepare for veneers, most of the short pegs appearing in these videos are crown preparations.
Dentists do not recommend young people seeking cosmetic dentistry opt for the invasive process used to shave down teeth into pegs, as the procedure is usually only performed on teeth that are decaying or broken.
London-based dentist Dr. Shaadi Manouchehri posted a video on her TikTok page warning that crown preparation can compromise a tooth's nerve and result in the need for a root canal.
"She's going to have dentures by the age of 40," Dr. Manouchehri said while commenting on a young TikTok influencer's video.
Dentists have also encouraged young people to avoid having their teeth shaved down to pegs for crowns because they often must be replaced every 10 to 15 years.
"That's going to be like $20,000 every 10 years, not to mention when you get a cavity," Arkansas orthodontist Ben Winters, DDS, said in a TikTok video.
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