What would prevent me from getting snap-on smile arches? would tooth decay prevent it? Would the tooth have to be removed first?

A Snap on Smile can pretty much be placed on top of any set of teeth, as long as they are not too mobile.  Snap on Smile should only be considered a short term patch, kind of like a band-aid.  It provides no treatment and has no medical value; it simply covers the issues that exists underneath.  Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMD

Snap on smiles are basically plastic teeth that slide over your natural teeth. The only criteria that must be met is that you have enough healthy teeth to hold the plastic teeth in place and that they are straight enough so that the plastic will be able to snap over your natural teeth. If you have teeth that are decaying you can still get the snap on smile but just be aware that until the tooth has been addressed the decay will continue to progress. If you have a choice, naturally it would be better to

In short, snap on smiles are like hats. They are worn over your teeth to give the appearance of a flawless smile. Therefore, you don't have to do any restorations to your existing teeth or have any removed in order to get a snap on smile. Just understand that these appliances are for appearance only.