Grills are removable covers comprised of gold, silver, or other metals adorned with diamonds, which snap onto the wearer’s teeth. The use of diamonds and gold as dental jewelry is an illustrious history of over a century. Explore the past with us as we explore the roots of dental bling.
800 BC – 200 BC
It is believed that the Etruscan civilization was one of the most wealthy and robust civilizations of the earliest times of Italy. Although there isn’t much writing from the time, archeologists have gathered information from this period by excavating tombs and graves. Wealthy Etruscan women were wearing what we now call grills. Wealthy women were fitted with front teeth and were equipped with a gold-plated band (much as a bridge for teeth) to adorn themselves with. It held the design of a gold tooth, used teeth, or replacement teeth made from ivory.
The 1980s
Hip hip hop and rap artists such as Flava Flav from Public Enemy and Big Daddy Kane became famous for grills in the 1980s. Grills were the Avant hip-hop scene. Grills were seen by many as an innovative and distinctive way of expression. Unlike other fashions of the period (like Flava Flav’s clock necklace), Grills were more than just a piece of ornaments in certain circles.
From 2005-2012
Recently, a variety of celebrities have caught media attention for their mouths. Since 2005, the hip-hop musician Nelly returned to the teeth trend with his most-loved track, “Grillz.” Rapper Kanye West showed off his diamond-encrusted bottom teeth appearing on Ellen DeGeneres’ show in 2010. To the shock of everyone, He insisted that they were not like grills. They were the bottom of his teeth. In the meantime, Entertainment Weekly brought in an expert to discuss the claims of the man. The short answer is Yes and no. Most likely, diamonds and gold were not replacing his teeth. Instead, his natural teeth were cleaned and then used as a base for dental bridges. A different rapper Lil Wayne divulged on Jimmy Kimmel’s show his diamond-studded smile cost him more than $150,000! Singer Rihanna was outfitted in 2011 with gold grills to accompany the “You Da One” music video. In 2012, athlete Ryan Lochte sported patriotic grills during the London Olympics.
A word of caution from Toothology Dental
Everyone here at Toothology Dental wants you to be careful when engaging in this fashion. Although there aren’t any studies that show grills cause harm to teeth, the American Dental Association cautions that there is no evidence that suggests they’re safe. Like the natural pearly whites of your teeth, grills need special attention. If you’re considering using grilling, you should consult our team of experts to determine whether it is a suitable option in terms of your health and oral hygiene.For more information, click to fubar news that would be the right place for you.
Even if you don’t own or desire to grill, please contact us to make an appointment for your biannual check-up. We will ensure your smile is what you want it to say! Your natural teeth also make a fashion statement.