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Mouth grills bling out the best in a hip-hopper's smile
Kangol hats, heavy gold chains, customized kicks. And now, dental grills.
Hip-hop culture has long been on the leading edge of fashion trends. These days,
the way to really shine comes from a wafer of gold molded around your pearly
whites, studded with diamonds — if you really want to make an impression.
C.J. Cole does.
After he saw rappers like Lil' Flip and Paul Wall sporting custom grills, the
19-year-old janitor wanted one of his own. Make that two — one on top and one on
the bottom.
The top piece snaps on much like a retainer and boasts a couple of diamonds. But
it was the bottom one that was a real beauty. It covered six of his teeth and
was decorated with channel-set diamonds.
"I lost it and have to order another," Cole said.
Recently, he stopped by Cadillac House jewelry to discuss a replacement. The
business is run by Earl "Cadillac" Hunter out of his Wichita, Kan., home.
Like many grill vendors, Hunter is a wholesaler, not a professional jeweler. He
works with customers to figure out what designs they want and to ensure they're
satisfied with the final product.
His sales materials include binders full of photos with different options for
grill designs — the Puerto Rican flag in invisible-set rubies, diamonds and
sapphires or cubic zirconia; the Playboy bunny etched on your gold teeth — more
than a hundred variations.
Once customers know what they want, Hunter sends molds of their teeth to
jewelers in Houston and New York, where the pieces are made.
Adriona Thomas, 19, jumped on the grill trend two years ago, long before hip-hop
icon Nelly released "Grillz," a song that urged kids across the country to
"smile for me daddy; let me see your grills." (The 2005 tune is among the
most-downloaded ring tones on Billboard's Hot Ringtones chart.)
Her top grill is open-faced, allowing some of her teeth to show through. It has
32 diamonds, eight on each tooth.
The bottom grill boasts 29 channel-set diamonds, alternating clear and yellow.
Her twin sister has the same design with clear and pink diamonds; her cousin
chose clear and green stones.
"We all wanted to have grills and decided to do more diamonds to make them stand
out," Thomas said. "You can see me from a mile away when I step outside."
Thomas wouldn't say how much her grills cost, but Cadillac House generally
charges $40 for each 10-karat-gold tooth. The price increases with the addition
of higher-karat gold, embellishments, jewels and charms. A simple grill could go
for a few hundred dollars. A top-of-the-line model might cost thousands. Other
local vendors also sell grills, and some jewelers sell them online.
As grills have gained popularity, the American Dental Association has taken
note. A section of its Web site is devoted to grill care. No studies have been
done to show whether grills can harm the mouth, but neither is there data
showing long-term wear is safe, the ADA cautions.
Still, Cole's enthusiasm for grills remains high. He has heard that the latest
models have charms that spin around.
"It's like cell phone ring tones," he said. "It's only going to get more
advanced."
Grill care
Grills carry the same risks for bacteria and infection as tongue or cheek
piercings, according to dentist Jon Tilton. He offers these tips for dental
hygiene:
• Take good care of your teeth with a regular regimen of brushing and flossing.
• Limit grill wear to short periods of time (a few hours at most). While the
grills are out, thoroughly clean the mouth and the grill.
• Metal in grills is a constant mouth irritant. It may cause bruising or cuts,
which could lead to infections.
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