Image via Complex Original
Grills have continually been a staple in hip-hop culture. Using metals as fillings for teeth has historically gone beyond simply being a fashion statement. A little history—wearing gold fronts as an accessory became popularin the '80s and was later integrated into the style and culture of New York in the '90s. It was the dirty South’s takeover of the early 2000s (a smile on the rocks!) that streamlined grills into the mainstream aesthetic. Now we’ve got grills for rappers (and people trying to look like rappers, too).
Grills became such a prominent part of hip-hop culture because, along with chains and rings, they were a way to keep money without holding cash on you. This style of jewelry is an investment and a representation of who you are, what you do, and where you come from. Now the previously niche item has become commonplace and worn by celebrities in all shapes and sizes. Grills have undoubtedly become an art form.
Some of the most iconic fronts and chains in the game are made by a god living in LA, Ian Marks, who calls himself The Gold Teeth God. From Kylie Jenner to Fredo Santana, The God can have your mouth’s net worth valued at Luxembourg’s pay per capita. I met up with the hoodrich George Foreman to learn exactly how these special dental amenities are made.
Follow his Instagram @GoldTeethGod and get more info at www.goldteethgod.com.
Step 1: Have a mold made of your top and/or bottom teeth.
The first step in getting your grills made is creating a mold of the teeth you want to be covered in diamonds and gold. You can either buy a mold kit online or have it made in your jeweler’s office. The putty for the mold is mixed together, put in the tray, and placed in your mouth for two minutes and 30 seconds so it can harden.
Step 2: The mold is taken to a dental technician who can look at the impression and pour the mold into the dye stone.
The dye stone is the green looking material that's used to fil impressions to create a model of your teeth. The dye stone is poured into the same mold.
Step 3: Casting the mold before adding the gold.
When casting, there is a wax lining needed in the mold before the gold is added. The wax is added to the mold and then removed as it goes into the casting machine to be fired. The gold is poured into the mold, and the wax-lined mold is casted.
Step 4: Remove the mold from the casting machine to reveal your grills.
Once you remove the mold from the casting machine, you have pure gold. The gold is often rough, because it has just been fired. What makes grills special is how well they fit into your mouth and how comfortable they are.
Step 5: The most important step—polishing the grills.
Here, the Gold Teeth God is polishing everything to perfection. Before polishing, extra gold is left to set diamonds or other customization. Then, each tooth is smoothed down so it feels good in your mouth. No self-respecting grill-wearing God wants rough edges or bumps in their mouth. Especially not after spending (a minimum of) a rack on a gold retainer.
If your grill hurts, as a safety precaution—remove it. The God recommends always cleaning your grills and flossing if you chose to wear your grills daily. Do not sleep or eat with your grills. Brush your teeth, because gold is expensive and so is dental work.
The God’s grills are as thin as possible. Adding diamonds can be seven or eight grams of weight in your mouth—bottoms perfect for the likes of Yeezus (who had his gold and diamond grills surgically placed in his gums).