What do your young patients, famous rappers, and maybe even your grandma have in common? They might all have, or want, gold in their mouth.
The modern trend of tooth gems and gold "grillz" is not a new phenomenon. Many ancient cultures long practiced tooth decoration with various ornaments. Gold teeth were once an investment, a symbol of riches and pride, long before hip-hop turned metal masks into a multimillion-dollar status symbol.
Grillz and other dental ornaments are now more accessible and popular than ever, becoming a vibrant form of self-expression. While a patient may not come to their regular check-up wearing diamond inlays or golden grillz, there will be signs. Do you know what to look for?
If you notice unusual plaque build-up, irritated gums or tooth damage, remember it’s not our job to judge and critique. It's to care. So use this pop-culture knowledge to relate, build trust and teach them the proper technique of taking care of bejeweled teeth.
This is what we imagine our grandma would look like if she ever released an album with a famous rapper.
And then she made him go for his prevention check-up, but forgot to remind them to take off the grillz.
Your personal views on marijuana may be shaped by the laws of the country you live in, but science is the same everywhere. A new study from San Diego has uncovered a sobering fact: cannabis use disorder triples the risk of oral cancer.
