Grillz - Gold Teeth that Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Grillz are metal teeth covers and are a prime example of putting your money where your mouth is. These gold teeth - or other precious or semiprecious metal - teeth are known as fronts or a host of other names including gold caps, slugs and removable grills. The rise in popularity of this full frontal bling is a phenomenon of hip hop culture that is slowly but steadily making inroads into acceptance by mainstream culture. Whether or not the mainstream will eventually embrace, or at least tolerate grillz, like we have tattoos, acupuncture and to a lesser degree gay rights and medical marijuana, is yet to be seen. But the fact is, fronts are something to smile about.

Fronts, like other fine jewelry have intrinsic value, that is, the gold and jewels used to make the dental appliances have value separate from the finished product. The point being that a nice front can be an investment as well as a fashion statement. When Junior asks about his college fund, you can just smile.

In any economy you should get the most bling for your buck both from an investment side and simple financial management view. So here are some tips to getting the best deal on your gold grills.

1. Know what you want.
Although early fronts were usually permanent the most popular grillz today are removable. They are usually made from gold, silver or platinum and can be encrusted with precious or semi-precious stones.

Grills range in price from $100. to more than $10,000. with the majority of folks spending somewhere in between. Okay, you can get a grill for under a hundred bucks, but it's most likely going to be a novelty item and you might as well wrap tin foil around your teeth. It is likely that your front will be priced by the tooth.

2. Don't do designer.
Designer grillz are the way to go if you can afford them, but you can get a great front for a lot less if you avoid the brand name. Research the manufacturers and find those who provide the quality you desire. Watch their ads to see when they put on a sale. If you absolutely must have the name, look for up and coming jewelry designers whose work has not reached its full financial potential.

3. Pay cash.
Paying cash for anything will save you interest on your purchase. Credit card companies are getting harder and more expensive to deal with. Adding 15-30% interest to the price of your front translates to a lot less value over time.

4. More is less.
At least it is when it comes to precious stones, that is. You can generally get more carats for your money by buying several smaller stones than by buying one big one.

5. Get a grill that fits.
It may be flashy and beautiful, but if your front doesn't fit well it won't be comfortable and you won't wear it, at least not as much. How many times have you heard, "I sure got my money's worth out of that." Well, nothing is guaranteed to always increase in value, including precious metals and stones. So you want to get as much usage value from your grill as you can. When it comes to a nice front, that means it needs to fit well.

Fronts are made from an impression or mold of your teeth. You bite into a quick drying compound, wait, and then pry the mold from your teeth. The dental shop fills the mold with a type of plaster and when they peel off the compound they have a nearly perfect cast of your teeth to fit the grill to. The best molds are done in the office of a dental professional but many companies offer to fit your front using a mold you make at home. It's probably not a good idea to make your own mold if you want your grill to fit well.

6. Tooth tarnish is taboo.
Nearly any metal will tarnish over time but some will corrode slower than others. Gold, silver and platinum alloys (alloys are a combination of metals that improve the base metal for a certain application) are generally best for dental metals. They will tarnish but at a slower rate and the tarnish can be removed by cleaning and polishing. With a little instruction and some elbow grease you can do this at home.

7. The grill is closed.
Try not to eat with your front. As with other fine jewelry you should take the best care of your front to help it retain its value over time. Most front manufacturers advise you not to eat with your grill. Fronts are jewelry for decoration and generally not designed to stand up to the acids and stress put upon them by eating. However, a large number of people eat with their grill on and try to be careful not to damage it. If you choose to eat with your front, be sure and clean it before you put it up to remove the corrosives that accumulate on teeth from food. The longer it lasts the more user value you get.