Grillz, explained simply
What are grillz and how they work.
Updated 5 October 2026 · Grillz Marche workshop, Monte San Giusto (MC), Italy
Grillz are removable jewellery for your teeth: a metal cover that goes over your teeth and comes off whenever you want. Here I explain where they come from, the main types, what they are made of, how they are made to measure and what they cost, starting from €130.
01
The definition, in two lines
A grillz is a metal cover shaped on your teeth. It sits on top, it is not glued and nothing needs filing: you put it in and take it out like a ring. It can cover a single tooth, a canine or all your front teeth.
They are also called «fronts» or «golds». They are fashion jewellery: not prostheses, they do not treat anything and they do not replace your dentist.
02
Where they come from
They were born in American hip-hop culture in the 1980s, in New York, and became a symbol of Southern rap, between Houston and Atlanta. In 2005 Nelly released «Grillz», which went to number one in the US charts.
Today they are worn by musicians, by people who want them for a video or a photo, and by people who simply like them, like a ring or a chain. In Italy for years they were mostly bought online, often one-size.
03
Types of grillz
There are many shapes, but almost everything falls into these families:
- Single tooth
- One covered tooth, often an incisor or a canine. The simplest way to start.
- Fang
- The canine extended to a point, with a rounded tip so it does not bother your lip.
- Open face
- The metal frames the tooth and leaves the enamel visible in the middle, like a window.
- Arch
- Six or eight front teeth, plain or worked: the classic grillz.
- Iced out
- Covered in cubic zirconia set one by one.
- Lettering or design
- A name, a date or a symbol engraved or shaped in the metal.
04
What they are made of
The material matters more than the shape, because a grillz sits in your mouth. I use two lines:
- Mirror chrome-cobalt
- ISO 22674 chrome-cobalt dental alloy, the same family of alloys used in dental labs, hand-polished to a mirror finish.
- Gold-effect PVD
- The same alloy with a gold-coloured titanium-based coating, applied in a vacuum chamber. It is not solid gold and I do not sell it as such.
Be wary of cheap pieces in a metal nobody can name: that is where the real problems come from.
05
How they are made to measure
- 01
The impression
You take it at home with the kit, using the same silicone pastes dentists use, or your dentist takes it. Before sending it you send me photos on WhatsApp.
- 02
Scan and 3D design
I scan the impression and sculpt the piece digitally on the real shape of your teeth.
- 03
Printing and finishing
The piece is printed in dental alloy and I finish it by hand, all the way to polishing.
- 04
Shipping
Ready 4-6 weeks from when the impression arrives, then tracked shipping.
06
What they cost
A custom grillz starts from €130 for one tooth in chrome-cobalt. Two teeth cost €190, six teeth €510. Gold-effect PVD starts from €310 for 2 teeth.
In Italy shipping is free from €200 of grillz.
07
Are they bad for your teeth?
A grillz made on a cast of your teeth, kept clean and taken out to eat and sleep, is designed not to damage the enamel. The real risks are one-size pieces, metals of unknown origin and misuse.
Are grillz bad for your teeth? The long answer →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat with grillz?+
Better not. Take them out before meals and put them back in the case: food gets underneath and the metal gets scratched.
Can you sleep with grillz?+
No. At night you cannot keep an eye on them and saliva sits still: take them out, clean them and put them in the case.
How do you clean them?+
After each use: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft toothbrush, then dry with a clean cloth. No toothpaste, it dulls the polish.
Can you take them out yourself?+
Yes, in a second, like a ring. They are not glued and nothing is filed down.
Want yours?
Pick a piece from the shop or build your own in the configurator: you see the price as you choose.
Configure your grillz ✦