In
hip hop culture, a
grill (also
front or
golds) is a type of
jewelry worn over the
teeth. Grills are made of metal and are generally removable. They began to be worn by
hip hop artists in the early 1980s, and upgraded during the 90s in New York City, but they became more widely popular during the mid-2000s due to the rise of
Southern hip hop rap and the more
mainstream pop culture status hip hop attained. Though grills are fitted to the
tooth impression of the wearer, whether they are safe for long-term wear is unknown.