Poll:
Would you let your child get 'fangs'?
ROCKWALL — How would you feel if your teenage son or daughter wanted to become a vampire?
The release of the third "Twilight" film has some kids dreaming about becoming Hollywood starlets — complete with fangs.
Taylor Walker, 16, desperately wanted to emulate her favorite cinematic stars. Rockwall dentist Dr. Mary Courtin is granting the Heath High School junior her wish.
She's using a plastic-like substance called composite to mold long, sharp, fang-like teeth.
“Some of my friends are like, 'Oh my gosh, that looks really weird!' But it's more about what I think, and I think they look good," Taylor said.
Taylor's mother, Jennifer Bean, said the idea didn't sit well with her at first. “That is a little extreme," she said. "But it’s safe. It’s not permanent — although she wants them to be permanent."
Another dentist, Dr. Jana Harrison of Plano, says the procedure may not be entirely safe.
“Actors do it, but it's something they wear; theirs come in and out. It's part of their makeup or costumes," Dr. Harrison said. "But I don't suggest to do it — even for three or four days. It's not a good idea."
Dr. Harrison said the "fangs" can harm the patient's bite, causing pain, headaches, and an array of other problems.
“When you put something large like a bonded composite, it gets in the way of the bite. You can't easily slide it up and over. You really have to strain your muscles to get up and over it," Dr. Harrison said.
Walker’s dentist, however, calls it all harmless fun.
"It could last an hour. It could last a couple days," Dr. Courtin said.
Courtin's office fielded five calls last week from other teens who wanted vampire-like canines. Some wanted their teeth sharpened. Neither dentist we spoke to would do that.
“I think this fad might pass," Dr.Courtin said. "When they get older, they may not really like that. So I don't do anything permanent."
Taylor’s mother said kids like her daughter want to look like movie stars. “They want to look like who they idolize. And right now, 'Twilight' is it,” she said.
E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com
