Let us answer all your frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you make lower teeth?
Sorry we do not do lower teeth, because you would not be able to close your bite without dislodging them. There are products out there but they will make it difficult to speak and potentially cause damage to upper teeth and jaw alignment.
Lower teeth usually fit within the upper teeth, and it is impossible to cover the lower teeth without interfering with your ability to close your bite. This will cause you to lisp and can lead to TMJ problems as well as impact the alignment of your upper teeth over time. The products Secure Smile® and Snap on Smile® do make lowers but you have these same problems with those.
How can I get a more secure fit?
If you could not get Imako Cosmetic Teeth to fit, there are two main reasons:
- You did not press them firmly against your teeth while the fitting layer was melted.
- You moved them around after pressing and did not get a clear imprint.
The good thing is, you can try again.
Do they use glue or denture cream for adhesion?
The way they fit is a mechanical function. By having the imprint of your teeth on the inside, they are able to grip because of matching surfaces. It is flexible and simply clips into place; no adhesive material required.
How long do they last?
The product can last for 2 years or more if used only for special occasions. Smoking will stain the product very quickly so you should remove them while smoking.
What are they made of?
They are made of two layers. The front layer which resembles teeth and gums is made of an elastomer (mixture of rubber and plastic) FDA approved for implantation in humans. It is extremely tear-resistant and flexible. The back layer is made of a low-melt thermoplastic, GRAS. No adhesives are used to attach the two layers. Imako Cosmetic Teeth are made in the USA. They are odorless and tasteless.
Is the front silicone surface easily scratched?
The front surface is not silicone, it is elastomer, a mixture of plastic and rubber. It is strong stuff and does not scratch easily, but can be stained.
Is there an odor problem with Imako like denture wearers have?
Denture odor comes from anerobic bacteria which thrive where oxygen is not present. Unlike dentures, our product allows saliva to bathe all surfaces in your mouth while wearing so there is no lack of oxygen.
Can the teeth be removed any time you want?
You can take off and put on Imako 600 times a day, never having to use adhesives. They just mold to your real teeth, and are flexible. You can even push them off with your lower teeth by jutting out your lower jaw and dislodging them. We suggest you pretend to cough into a napkin and discreetly remove them to eat this way (secure that napkin!). Yet they are reliable enough that you could holler for your favorite team and they would stay on.
I have a fang that protrudes a little more than the rest of my front teeth and want to know if these teeth would work?
Being a mass market product, it is never going to look as real or as good as what a dentist can do. To hide the little fang, the whole device has to fit lower and might look funny.
Are there any dangers to wearing them?
Our product is the only device of its kind which does not interfere with closing your bite, which can be very annoying. It is also much more flexible, which assures that your teeth are not being pressured to stay on. If you developed a tender spot, you could simply reconfigure the fitting plastic so that it did not touch that area.
When you speak with them on, do you have any annoying clicking like some people with dentures?
That clicking is caused by dentures slipping out of place. You will never have that problem with Imako. If the fit is wrong, you are in control and you can easily fix it!
I was just wondering if you could wear Imako cosmetic teeth even if your canines stick out a little bit further than they should?
They can be fitted lower to compensate. It might look goofy, and it might look good, I cannot predict. It depends on whether you would look better with longer front teeth.
All of my teeth are missing on the right side, I am have dental work done, will I be able to use this temporarily?
You can make our product work for you and the great thing is you can alter it as your dental work progresses. You will use our extra fitting material beads (provided) to make the Imako shell much thicker and stiffer where your teeth are missing. You fashion that material to wrap half way around the nearest tooth. In your case, you would put the right side on first and take it off last, since it is hooked around your tooth on that side.
How can I avoid having my lip stick out?
You can make our product work for you and the great thing is you can alter it as your dental work progresses. You will use our extra fitting material beads (provided) to make the Imako shell much thicker and stiffer where your teeth are missing. You fashion that material to wrap half way around the nearest tooth. In your case, you would put the right side on first and take it off last, since it is hooked around your tooth on that side.
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How do you clean the Imako shell?
We recommend daily cleaning by wiping with rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol, then soaking weekly using peroxide or Polident Overnight Whitening® tablets. Don’t leave your cosmetic teeth in sunlight as it will accelerate yellowing.
Smokers can ruin the teeth very quickly. Denatured alcohol can help remove tar. Also, try the clear nail polish procedure (in the printed instructions) to add stain resistance.
Would I be able to wear this product over my existing broken bridge?
Yes. You should take the precaution of applying a thin coat of vegetable oil to the surface before fitting, as there is a small chance it could stick (only temporarily while still warm) to your bridge work.
Can you kiss with them in?
You will have to be the judge of that! If you are deep French kissing, a very embarrassing event could occur. A little nuzzling or smooching would probably be OK, so you could declare “No tongue” beforehand.
Is it possible to purchase some extra material?
We sell packets of fitting plastic in 4 different ways: gum color, tooth color or combo gum & white beads ($4) or raw material white beads ($3). Our pigments are food-safe. Additionally you can buy a back layer piece in either size, $4.
Will these teeth work if you only have 1 tooth left on the top on the side?
Sorry but it will not work. For your own health, you should have that last tooth removed and go for dentures. Being able to chew food and mix saliva into it is an essential step in digestion, and one of life’s best pleasures.
Hi, I was wondering I have nice teeth, but my jawline is messed up,so you can't really see my top teeth unless, you really stare. Would this help you be able to see my teeth at all?
As long as you don’t have an underbite (where lower teeth are forward of upper teeth), then you can fit our Imako product where they hang lower than your own teeth. I have seen this make a fantastic improvement on people who don’t have enough length between the bottom of the nose and the bottom of the upper teeth.
The Imako Cosmetic Teeth don't have enough shading between them. Anything I can do?
Have a detail paintbrush, white vinegar and Betty Crocker® tubes of food coloring on hand. Mix blue and a smaller amount of red to obtain a dull blue-gray color, thin with white vinegar. Paint color between teeth and where the top of the teeth meet the gum. To make permanent, coat all exposed surfaces of the front layer with a thick coat of clear nail polish. Do not overwork (keep brushing) the polish. Let dry overnight. The clear polish adds shine and stain resistance.
Can Imako cover up two missing front teeth?
Imako can even cover 4 missing front teeth!
What about if you have an underbite?
Your lower teeth can knock our cosmetic teeth out of position. Also, our product will likely prevent closing your bite and cause lisping.
In some cases you can work around that by closing your bite and sliding the lower jaw around just a bit while the fitting material is still soft, to push it out of the way.
I have receding gums. Can Imako be fitted?
Yes. Actually receding gums will give the Imako shell more surface and shape to lock onto. The biggest problem fitting Imako is presented by folks who have a lot of plaque which tends to collect in the crevices, and gives the Imako no definite shapes to form around.
What good are these things if you can't eat with them?
The Imako shell is not strong enough to bite through food. Obviously my product is not the ideal situation, but there are people who can’t afford dental care, or have health problems that dentistry cannot address. Just being able to look decent can be a godsend.
If I had all my teeth pulled to prepare for dentures can I use this?
You are better off saving for the dentures. You need them to chew food, which is crucial to your health. You can’t chew with our product, and it must have some real teeth to be supported.
Upon trying to fit them properly some of the fitting material has bonded to the artificial teeth part. How can I remove this?
Melt a couple of the beads and then fuse them to the fitting material you want to remove by dipping that area in hot water. Once you have that fused, you’ll have a thicker piece to pull away and trim off.
All of my teeth are missing on the right side, I am have dental work done, will I be able to use this temporarily?
You can make our product work for you and the great thing is you can alter it as your dental work progresses. You will use our extra fitting material beads (provided) to make the Imako shell much thicker and stiffer where your teeth are missing. You fashion that material to wrap half way around the nearest tooth. In your case, you would put the right side on first and take it off last, since it is hooked around your tooth on that side.