Open Wide and Say AAAHHH!
Posted on : March 19, 2015 By : Wellness
We all want that winning smile and try our best to keep it with regular brushing, flossing, mouth wash and visits to your local Apple Wellness Center. What would you do for that million dollar smile? How about pay precisely that much?!
Golden and diamond-encrusted teeth, or fronts called grills, are a major fashion statement amongst rap artists and are now readily available to the public, for as ‘little’ as 800 dollars per tooth!
This all started with Eddie Plein and his famed ‘Eddie’s Gold Teeth’, which soon started a craze. Having finished dental school, he worked on the gnashers of such stars as Flava Flav, Little Daddy Kane and Just-Ice, which only brought him more notoriety.
Now we at Apple Wellness Center like to keep up with the latest trends, so we can make sure to be ready with practical advice to keep you safe. So let’s take a brief glimpse at some of the most expensive ‘dazzling’ smiles in the world and the best ways to protect your teeth from lasting damage.
Something of a cautionary tale is rapping icon Lil’Wayne, who spent a tremendous $150,000 for his diamond-encrusted teeth. These became synonymous with the rapper, alongside his trademark eyelid tattoos. However, following an arrest for possessing a firearm without proper licensing he was sentenced to a year in state prison, during which time he had surgery for eight hours dealing with no less than eight root canals and extensive repair work on his existing teeth!
Meanwhile, the famed rapper Birdman had a solid platinum grill put in by a specialist in New Orleans for a whopping $100k. As a man known for his extravagance, these platinum choppers puts him high up on the scale most expensive smiles in the world – or at least you would hope so, having spent that much!
Now these fang-tastic fashion accessories are readily available to anyone with the cash, with one Dubai clinic offering a 24-carat (pure gold) grill studded with 156 diamonds, which are worth a further 2.5 carats, for the ‘low’ price of £89,000. For those who don’t have that kind of cash, pro Grill Designer Paul Wall offers a special ‘Baller on a Budget’ deal for $75 a tooth.
These fashionable fangs have become signature items of the rich and famous, with many Hollywood celebrities following suit. However with such fame comes imitation, which some would call the ultimate form of flattery – but poorly made caps and dazzling teeth can have some nasty side effects.
One simple fact is that many celebrities have removable grills or gold caps, because permanently fixing these in place can cause large build up of acidic bacteria and build of food debris. All of which can lead to the likes of root canals, tooth decay and even gum disease.
If you want one, we would advise first checking with your dentist, as well as being sure of the quality of work and materials. It’s best to avoid any contact with any metals you may be allergic to, and checking your supplier’s credentials to make sure you’re getting a professional.
In the long term, it’ll be cheaper to pay for a credible dental professional, rather than deal with consequence of shoddy workmanship. Furthermore, simple removal of these glamorous grills before eating and sleep as well as regular cleaning can do your teeth the world of good. But ultimately don’t forget, gold and diamonds may add some shine, but nothing can beat your natural pearly whites.
Apple Wellness Centre is a private clinic that offers a wide range of experts for all your personal health needs. If you’re looking to book time with an experienced dentist in Airdrie or Calgary, just contact us on (403) 948 3342 and our friendly support staff will happy to help.
