What makes a grill custom
Custom grillz are made for one person's teeth. Instead of a one-size piece softened and pressed on, a custom grill is designed on a scan of the wearer's own teeth, so it follows each tooth's shape and sits evenly along the gum line. That is what makes it comfortable to wear and easy to take out.
Today most custom grillz are designed digitally. The teeth are scanned, the piece is designed in dental CAD software, and the file is sent for casting or metal printing. We do the design step for jewellers, dental labs and grillz makers, who then produce and finish the piece.
Starting point: the scan or impression
The design can only be as accurate as the scan. An intraoral scan of the teeth is the most direct starting point. A traditional impression or a stone model can also be scanned and used. Either way, the scan must show every tooth the grill will cover, the gum line around them and, ideally, the opposing teeth, so the piece does not get in the way when the mouth closes.
Missing areas, bubbles or a gum line that is not clearly visible make it harder to set the edge of the piece. If the scan is not good enough, we tell you before we start rather than designing on a guess.
How the fit is designed
Grillz stay on through a close fit to the shape of the teeth, not through glue. The scan is checked for undercuts, which are areas where the tooth gets wider below its widest point. Part of the undercut is used to hold the piece in place and part is blocked out so the grill can still slide on and come off by hand.
A small gap is left between the inside of the grill and the teeth so the piece seats fully without rocking. The edge is kept clear of the gum so it does not press on the soft tissue, and the inside of the front teeth is kept thin so speaking is not affected more than necessary.
Styles we design
- Single-tooth caps and fronts of 2, 4, 6 or 8 teeth
- Full-arch top and bottom pieces
- Open-face designs that show part of the natural tooth
- Plain polished, textured or engraved surfaces, including custom lettering
- Gold, silver or platinum pieces with an even wall thickness for casting
- Diamond and moissanite pieces with the surface prepared for stone settings
Gold and diamond grillz: what changes in the design
For a plain gold grill, the main goal is an even wall thickness. Walls that are too thin can bend or wear through. Walls that are too thick add weight, use more metal and feel bulky. The outside is shaped to the style requested and smoothed so it polishes cleanly without losing its shape.
For diamond or moissanite grillz, the outside surface also has to leave room for the stones. The size and layout of the stones, and how they will be set, affect how thick the metal must be. Tell us the stone sizes and setting style you plan to use, so the design leaves the right amount of material for them.
Casting or printing
The final design is delivered as an STL file. It can be printed in a castable resin or wax and cast in the chosen metal, or printed directly in metal where your production partner offers it. Let us know which method you use, because the file is prepared slightly differently for each.
What to send and how pricing works
Send the scan or scanned impression of the teeth to be covered, with the opposing teeth if you have them. Add reference photos of the style you want, the number of teeth, the metal and any stone settings. The more clearly the style is described, the fewer changes are needed later.
Every grillz case is different, so price and turnaround are on request. They depend on the design and the complexity of each case, and we confirm both before we start. Revisions are included until you approve the design.
Frequently asked questions
- How do custom grillz stay on your teeth?
- Through a close fit to the shape of the teeth. Part of each tooth's natural undercut is used to hold the piece, while enough is blocked out so it can be removed by hand.
- Do grillz have to be custom made?
- A custom grill is designed on a scan of the wearer's own teeth, so it fits closely along each tooth and the gum line. This is what makes it comfortable and easy to remove.
- How long does it take to design custom grillz?
- Turnaround is on request, because it depends on the design and complexity of each case. We confirm it before we start.
- How much does a custom grillz design cost?
- Price is on request. It depends on the design, the number of teeth and the complexity of the case, and we confirm it before any work starts.
- Do you make the finished grillz?
- We design the piece and deliver the STL file. Casting or printing, stone setting and polishing are done by your jeweller, lab or production partner.