THE HISTORY OF GRILLS AND TEETH ACCESSORIES AND HOW THEY MADE IT TO THE RED CARPET
WRITTEN BY AVERY CARL
Teeth are becoming more of a hot topic as numerous celebrities appear on red carpets with either entirely new sets of teeth — thanks to the ever-popular dental veneers — or added jewelry. But where did the obsession start?
A grill, commonly referred to as grills or grillz, has a history dating back almost 4,000 years, rooted in many different cultures across numerous countries as a symbol of status and wealth. Most recently, the phenomenon gained popularity in the early 1980s through hip-hop artists such as Raheem the Dream and Kilo Ali. New York-based shop Famous Eddie’s Gold Teeth, owned by Eddie Plein, is credited with helping start the movement alongside Johnny Dang, who later opened a shop in Houston, Texas.
The modern grill originated as a response to the lack of dental care in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Plein adapted dental crowns from single teeth into multiple caps, thus creating the first grills, originally known as fronts or caps. His first notable celebrity customer was Just-Ice, who popularized gold fronts by wearing custom “Ice Ice” engraved grills on his 1987 album Kool & Deadly. Their popularity further expanded during the 1990s in Miami, Florida.
Grills have long been a part of the cultural zeitgeist, but their history is deeply rooted in hip-hop culture, cementing themselves into the fashion world, especially during the early 2000s with the release of songs like “Grillz” by Nelly and artists such as OutKast and Flava Flav embracing the trend.
Now, grills are no longer limited to a specific genre or demographic. Celebrities like Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Katy Perry have all worn them.
Grills originally served as symbols of wealth, self-affirmation, and success within Black communities while also showcasing personal style, amplified by the extravagance of hip-hop culture. They have always been highly customizable, featuring initials, diamonds, gemstones, and intricate designs. It’s this customization that has made grills a new staple on both the red carpet and the runway.
Through technological advancements in 3D printing, custom molds, and gem-setting techniques, grills have evolved far beyond where they started. Modern grills can feature everything from minimalist designs to elaborate patterns, gemstones, and even LED lights.
It’s why celebrities like Jacob Elordi, Rosalía, Michael B. Jordan, and most recently Hudson Williams at the Met Gala, have all started wearing hyper-custom grills, each styled to a different extent.
Michael B. Jordan, following the success of Sinners, wore golden fangs to the film’s New York City premiere. Not only was this a reference to the vampiric themes of the film, but also to the gold-plated grill worn by his character, Stack, whose teeth become pointed when he transforms into a vampire. The rest of the cast wore similar grills during the London premiere, with Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, and Jack O’Connell all sporting variations of vampiric-inspired designs.
PHOTO: Michael B. Jordan showing off his golden teeth at the NYC preimere for Sinners - Getty Images
Similarly, Jacob Elordi’s character Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights featured a golden tooth, symbolizing his transformation from an impoverished young boy missing a tooth into a wealthy landowner — vaguely mirroring what teeth jewelry represented in the 1980s. Elordi later wore the same gold tooth to the Sydney premiere of the film. The custom piece featured two diamonds with the letters “C” and “H” carved into the plating.
Caleb McLaughlin also wore grills to the premiere of Goat, designed by David Tamargo (@alligatorjesus on Instagram), featuring a “G” in the same font used on the film’s poster. Tamargo also created the custom grills worn by Robert Pattinson during his 2022 GQ shoot.
Most recently, at the Met Gala after-party, Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams wore custom grills featuring an opal tooth and a white gold carving of Venus de Milo, created by Christy Cash. Previously, in 2023, Cash designed custom grills for Billie Eilish featuring two white gold platings with a star motif. Cash posted the set with the caption “Grillz is Art,” referencing the Met Gala 2026 theme and potentially questioning what elitists do and do not consider art.
PHOTO: Hudson Williams on Christy Cash’s Instagram showing off his “Grillz Is Art” grillz. - @christycash on Instagram.
This is not the first time grills have appeared at the Met Gala. Celebrities including Shaboozey, Alton Mason, Sha’Carri Richardson, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anok Yai all wore grills to the 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
As jewelry becomes increasingly customizable and accessible, these pieces continue appearing on red carpets and at major events. Yet their purpose remains much the same as it always was: to symbolize wealth, individuality, and status. As more people turn to grills for extra “bling” in their outfits, the more mainstream they become. Still, it’s important to remember their origins. The popularity of gold dental work in Black communities stemmed in part from a lack of accessible dental care in Brooklyn and the Bronx, where gold was one of the cheapest materials available for fillings and crowns. What began as a symbol tied to economic struggle has transformed dramatically over the past 50 years.
