Tooth Gems in London, Ontario
We have two studios in London, and only one of them does tooth gems: the Richmond Row studio downtown. Masonville does not. It is a four-kilometre difference on the same street, and people do turn up at the wrong one, so it is worth getting right before you set off.
The Two Studios
Downtown — Richmond Row 691 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5M1 (519) 434-6080 Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Richmond Row, very close to the Park Hotel.
Masonville 1680 Richmond Street, London, ON N6G 3Y9 (519) 601-9550 Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. First floor of Masonville Place, beside SportChek.
How to choose. Masonville opens earlier and stays open later on weekdays — until nine — and it has mall parking, which makes it the easier one if you are coming by car or fitting it around shopping. Downtown suits you if you are already on Richmond Row, walking from Western, or out in the evening.
Both are on Richmond Street, about four kilometres apart, and people do occasionally arrive at the wrong one.
One thing worth knowing: Masonville has the mall parking and the later weekday hours, and for a tattoo or a piercing it is often the easier of the two. For a tooth gem it is downtown or nowhere.
What a Tooth Gem is
A small flat-backed crystal bonded to the front surface of a tooth with dental adhesive — the same family used to attach orthodontic brackets.
Nothing is drilled. Nothing is filed. No part of the tooth is removed or altered. The gem sits on the enamel, and when it comes off the enamel underneath is unchanged. There is no needle and it does not hurt.
The Appointment
About fifteen minutes.
Clean and dry the tooth thoroughly — the drying is what decides whether it holds. Conditioning gel for a few seconds, rinsed. Adhesive, gem placed, curing light for a few seconds to set.
Eat and drink straight afterwards.
How Long They Last
Six months to a couple of years.
The main variables are placement and grinding. A gem on the flat front face of a tooth outlasts one near a biting edge. If you grind your teeth at night, expect less, and tell us so we can place it more sensibly.
When one comes off it comes off cleanly and takes nothing with it. Come back and we will replace it.
Aftercare
First 24 hours: nothing hard bitten on that tooth, no chewing ice, easy on hot-and-cold extremes.
Then brush and floss as normal, going gently around the gem rather than directly at it. Keep an electric brush head moving rather than resting it on the gem.
No whitening strips while it is on. They whiten around the gem and not beneath it, and you get a small differently shaded patch when it eventually comes off.
When to See a Dentist First
Active decay, an untreated cavity, or gum disease — a gem over a problem conceals it.
A crown, veneer or composite filling on the tooth face, where the adhesive behaves differently. We will look before agreeing.
Mid-treatment with braces or aligners — check with your orthodontist.
Standards
Both London studios work to the standards of the Middlesex-London Health Unit and to Ontario’s regulation for personal service settings, covering instruments, surfaces and single-use items.
Booking
Downtown: (519) 434-6080. Masonville: (519) 601-9550.
Walk-ins for gems are usually fine at both, though a Saturday at Masonville is busy and ringing ahead saves you standing about.
Bring an idea of which tooth and whether you want one gem or a cluster. Picking the size and shape in person is far easier than off a screen.
Common Questions
Do both London studios do tooth gems?
No. Downtown, on Richmond Row, only.
Which studio should I go to?
Masonville for longer weekday hours and mall parking. Downtown if you are already on Richmond Row or looking for a tooth gem.
Is my tooth drilled?
No. Nothing is drilled or filed.
Does it hurt?
No, and there is no needle.
How long does it last?
Six months to a couple of years.
