A new youth fashion craze is sweeping across China, where people are engraving words and designs onto their dental crowns — popularly dubbed “tooth tattoos.”
The trend, reported by Shangyou News, has become a hot topic on mainland social media. Dental institutions across the country are promoting the service by offering free customised engravings on tooth crowns, hoping to attract young customers.
A tooth crown is an artificial cap that covers a damaged or weak tooth to restore its function and appearance. Clinics now market them as a form of self-expression. “Our 3D-printed crowns are made of aerospace materials. They not only repair your tooth but can also be engraved with words or patterns — uniquely tailored for you,” read an advertisement from a private hospital in Guangdong province, which operates in Guangzhou and Foshan.
Introduced earlier this year, the engraving service has quickly gained popularity. Many opt for inspirational words such as “get rich” or “secure success,” while others carve lucky numbers, symbols, or even their partner’s name. Popular designs include spiders, stars, and hearts.
One customer in Shandong province said she chose to engrave the character shen (meaning “careful”) on her crown. “At first it felt like a foreign object in my mouth, but after a year I’ve adapted,” she explained, noting her crown cost 1,000 yuan (US$140). Other clinics reportedly charge around 2,000 yuan (US$280).
Not everyone is supportive of the fad. A dentist in Shanghai warned of potential risks: “Engraving will inevitably weaken the crown. I do not recommend patients adopt this practice.”
Beyond permanent engravings, some young people are experimenting with temporary stickers that last only a day. On social media, one woman showed off colourful shapes — a heart, a circle, and a star — applied to her front teeth, calling them “cute.”
However, reactions online remain divided. While some embrace the quirky fashion, others dismiss it as unsightly. “It’s disgusting to have a tattoo on your tooth,” one netizen wrote.
