Gold teeth? I could not believe my eyes when my family pointed me to this sign. Who would want gold teeth on purpose? I snapped a photo and did a little research. My first stop was Wikipedia.
Gold dental fixtures, originally intended for dental restoration, have become a popular fashion trend amongst devotees to hip hop culture in the United States. While some rap musicians have had their gold teeth permanently attached to existing teeth, most people who purchase them for aesthetic purposes opt for removable gold teeth caps. In 2005, Nelly released the rap single Grillz which promotes the dental apparati. Commonly enscribed on "grills" are names of women, references to favorite substances, pictures and names
Source: Wikipedia - Gold Teeth
O.K. So a hip hop musician recommends gold teeth and the highly impressionable youth of today run out and start buying Grillz. It must work the same was as Tattoos, only a little less permanent.
I wondered about the cost. It can't be too much, right? After all, it's just jewelry, and primarily focused on the younger market. How much could gold teeth cost?
According to Mr. Bling (not the Mr. Bling Bling from the picture above), a starter set is a minimum of $150, add diamonds or a more flashy setting and a set can run into several thousand dollars.
I called Mr. Bling Bling to check prices. He offers the full range of teeth. I understand he even has used teeth available at a discount. All for about the same price as Mr. Bling, but with the option of a payment plan for good credit. I've got to wonder if it helps your credit score to use Mr. Bling Bling as a reference. Hmm, I don't think so.
I remembered hearing about gold teeth on NPR a few weeks ago. A quick search found an essay by Annmarie Kelly Harbaugh from September 26.
Commentator Annmarie Kelly Harbaugh teaches ninth-grade English at Cooperative Arts Magnet High School in New Haven, Conn. When her students forget to bring a book to class, she loans them one -- and takes car keys for collateral. Recently, though, one student offered his gold teeth.
Source: NPR.org - A Student's Collateral: His Gold Teeth.
Listen here.
As a child, my oldest son fell while running on the sidewalk, He broke four front teeth. I remember getting him a set of gold caps. He wore them proudly for several years, then cashed them in for some serious tooth fairy money. I don't think they compare to what the kids are wearing today. As a man, my son is tattoo and grillz free, He does however, listens to hip hop.
3 comments:
look at this douche
a total mr. bling bling
I used to ask, "What is it with the 'Grillz'?" To some people like me, it's like a huge cavity stuck on your teeth. But as I understand more about the society and human behavior, I learned that it is like an ego booster to a person who's in a certain group. This gives me an idea on what to ask my dentist when I head back to Jackson.
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