Canberra residents Danny Tucker (left) and Jay Roberts show off their tooth gems, part of a growing beauty trend catching on among young Canberrans. Photo: Naziya Alvi Rahman.
A tiny crystal catches the light every time Danny Tucker laughs. The sparkle lasts only a moment, but it’s enough to turn heads.
That, after all, is why people get tooth gems in the first place.
For Ms Tucker, the tiny gem bonded to her front tooth isn’t much different from the tattoos she spends her days creating. It’s simply another form of self-expression.
“I first saw it on someone in the street and I found it cool,” she told Region.
It wasn’t a celebrity, a beauty influencer, or even TikTok that convinced her. It was another Canberran.
Across the city, more smiles are beginning to sparkle.
Tiny crystals, stars and gold embellishments are quietly becoming one of Canberra’s fastest-growing beauty trends, finding their way onto the teeth of young Canberrans looking for something a little different.
For Jay Roberts, the fascination was not instant like Ms Tucker. It grew over time.
“I had a few friends that got them, and I thought they were really awesome, so I decided to get some myself.”
What was once associated with celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Rihanna, Drake and Rosalía has become increasingly common, fuelled by social media but spread just as much through friends, festivals and word of mouth.
No one has watched that growth more closely than Anna Mihov.
When she began applying tooth gems from a home studio in early 2024, she wasn’t sure whether Canberra would embrace the trend. Less than two years later, demand has more than doubled.
She now operates from a studio on Northbourne Ave, seeing between six and 10 clients most weeks while working part-time.
During youth festivals and fashion events, however, demand can explode.
“It’s like 50 in a day or so,” she said.
“It’s however many I can fit and do with my hands in one day.”
Prices start at around $50 for a single crystal and can climb to about $400 for more elaborate designs.
“There’s training involved in learning the skill and art of tooth gem application and removal, the products themselves and the time it takes to apply the gem,” she said.
“It is not a simple two-minute job and, if it is, you’re probably at the wrong place.”
For many of her clients, tooth gems have become another form of body art, sitting somewhere between jewellery and tattoos.
Unlike tattoos, however, the trend raises questions about oral health.
Anna Mihov at her Northbourne Avenue studio, where she has seen demand for tooth gems more than double since launching the business in 2024. Photo: Naziya Alvi Rahman.
Kristine, a registered dental hygienist at Glo Dental Studio, says the procedure itself is not the problem.
How it is done is.
She said professionally applied tooth gems were generally safe when placed correctly using dental-grade materials.
“Tooth gems are completely safe for the tooth if they are applied and placed correctly, using the correct adhesive and etching, ensuring oral hygiene can be maintained around them.”
She also dismissed one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the trend.
“A tooth gem is no different to a bracket being bonded on for orthodontic treatment,” she said.
“It can be removed safely and the tooth can be polished without any significant enamel loss.”
The real risks, she said, arise when gems are poorly placed.
If positioned too close to the gum line, they can cause inflammation. If they are placed where brushing becomes difficult, plaque can accumulate, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
While she said she had not personally treated complications from tooth gems, she had seen examples during training of what can go wrong.
“I’ve certainly seen what not to do, which would be placing gems in areas where the patient cannot get their toothbrush around the margins. This can cause tooth decay, or placing tooth gems too close to the gum line where a lot of inflammation occurs.”
She also recommends that gems be removed only by a registered dental practitioner.
Professional dental advice more broadly echoes those concerns. Australian-based Studified Dental group in a blog warns that while tooth gems themselves are not inherently damaging, DIY kits, poor-quality adhesives and improper removal can permanently damage tooth enamel.
They also advise people to maintain excellent oral hygiene, avoid picking at loose gems and seek professional removal rather than attempting it at home.
For Ms Mihov, education is just as important as creativity. She trained with an experienced tooth gem technician in Melbourne before completing further education through online courses and independent research, including learning from dental professionals overseas.
She says the industry is still evolving and acknowledges there is little formal regulation.
“As far as I know in Australia, it’s technicians teaching technicians,” she said. “There are some formal courses, but there’s no dentistry sort of qualification.”
She believes that is something that may eventually change.
“I think a bit more regulation would be warranted.”
Until then, she encourages clients to ask questions before sitting in the chair.
Who trained the technician? Are dental-grade materials being used? Is the equipment sterile? Does the practitioner carry insurance?
Like any beauty trend, tooth gems come with both excitement and responsibility. A little sparkle can be fun – as long as it’s applied safely and with proper advice.
