Gold teeth

Gold teeth are a form of dental prosthesis. They are sometimes used for cosmetic purposes.

Dental restoration

Dentists have used gold for filling cavities (before mercury amalgam became available), for crowns, and for other purposes since ancient times. Gold is malleable, nearly immune to corrosion, and hard enough to form a biting surface that can be used for years. Gold was used before silver became available and has continued to be used for specialized purposes. Dental restorations are often made from a combination of precious metals. After 1980, gold inlays and gold foil work became rare in the United States.

Cosmetic uses

In certain regions of the world, especially in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet countries, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, gold teeth are worn as a status symbol, a symbol of wealth. Originally the most expensive historical dental prosthetic, these are sometimes now installed in place of healthy teeth or as crowns over filed-down healthy teeth.

Grills, false tooth covers made of metal, have become a popular hip hop fashion 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 apparatus. It was not until the 1980s that gold teeth became popular in the hip-hop world.