Up until the last few years, the only time that someone could be seen with pointy teeth was around Halloween. However, popular trends, ancient traditions, and mere shock value have encouraged some people to visit the dentist for more than just your common teeth cleaning.
A procedure called “yaeba,” which means “double tooth” in Japanese, has been a growing fad in Japan over the last two years and is sparking a trend in other countries of the world as well. In Western society, an attractive smile generally starts with straight teeth, but in Japan, crooked, pointy teeth are desired because they show that a woman is not perfect, making her more approachable. To achieve a pointy, vampire-like smile for patients, a dentist can either permanently shave down the canine teeth into pointed teeth, or plastic fangs can be applied temporarily with an adhesive. Other cultures and traditions have also influenced people to make drastic alterations to their teeth.
Open wide!
Dennis Avner, also known as “Cat Man,” held the world record for the most body modifications and had his teeth filed and capped in order to achieve a feline appearance. Following an ancient Huron tradition, Avner altered himself to resemble his Native American name: Stalking Cat. He identified with his feline totem animals and had teeth made specifically for him in order to adopt their physical form. Other people have also modified their teeth in order to achieve an animal-like appearance.
Erik Sprague, a performance artist, underwent a dental procedure to further his transformation as “The Lizardman.” In addition to subdermal implants, a full-body tattoo of green scales and green lips, and a split tongue, Sprague had his teeth sharpened into points. He makes his living as a freak show and sideshow performer and uses his body modifications to make money from the shock value of his striking and unusual appearance.
Even with the craze of individuals undergoing bizarre dentistry procedures to get an uncommon look, having straight, white teeth is a sign of oral health that the majority of people long for. To learn more about how Dr. Sands can give you’re the smile you’re looking for, please call (310) 273-0111 today.