When Louisville Ballet’s Dracula returns to the stage October 10-11, audiences will see more than just breathtaking choreography and hauntingly beautiful sets. They’ll also witness a touch of dental artistry, thanks to the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.

On August 27, prosthodontics residents captured a 3D digital model of each dancer’s teeth using a handheld intraoral scanner. The scanner creates a highly accurate 3D model of the mouth, eliminating the need for messy and uncomfortable molds while ensuring a precise and comfortable fit.

With these detailed scans, the prosthodontics team was able to create fangs tailored to each performer. The custom-made fangs are made to fit securely and seamlessly match surrounding teeth, allowing the dancers to fully embody their roles with ease and comfort.

Prosthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on restoring and replacing teeth and other oral structures. Dr. Kristen Eguren, a faculty member for the prosthodontics program, says creating the fangs allowed the residents to apply their skill set in an unusual way.  

“This is the same kind of precision we apply when crafting restorations like crowns and dentures for our patients – only with a decidedly more theatrical twist,” Eguren says.  

UofL School of Dentistry Prosthodontics resident Dr. Savannah Dennis makes a 3D digital impression of Louisville Ballet dancer Nicholas Bentz’s teeth.	The 3D digital impressions were then loaded into a computer program in which UofL's prosthodontists designed custom fangs for each dancer.	The finished product includes a thin, clear retainer custom-fit for each dancer's top teeth, with with two thin fangs covering their existing canine teeth.

This collaboration between dentistry and the arts comes just in time for the much-anticipated revival of Dracula, choreographed by Alun Jones. After nearly 30 years, the gothic classic will once again rise from the shadows October 10–11 at The Brown Theatre, complete with newly designed sets . Audiences will encounter chilling accounts of Count Dracula through the eyes of three of his victims.

Whether viewed as art or science, the project highlights the creativity and precision of prosthodontics – and proves that sometimes, a dazzling smile requires just the right bite.

By Paige Moore

Published Sept. 24, 2025