Ye, the international rap icon formerly known as Kanye West, shocked his followers with an Instagram story of his teeth covered with customized titanium grill inspired by iconic Jaws villain from James Bond films.
As shown in an IG story that has since expired, the rapper’s teeth on the top and bottom rows are covered with metal. West allegedly paid an astounding $850,000 for the surgery, which is much more expensive than diamonds, according to an unnamed source.
The titanium teeth, designed by West, are said to have been installed by Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. Thomas Connelly, who was assisted by Master Dental Technician Naoki Hayashi.
Although it was first claimed that the rapper had had his teeth extracted to make room for the titanium set, the Washington Post reported—citing an acquaintance of the rapper—that Ye’s teeth are still in place underneath the grill.
But what are the pros and cons of having a permanent titanium structure in the long run? According to specialists in materials experts from Northeastern universities, the metal is lighter, durable, and capable of withstanding the extreme conditions that the body produces. Ye most likely wouldn’t have any problems, yet in certain individuals, the metal occasionally causes allergic reactions or other negative consequences.
Hai-Ping Cheng, a physics professor at the College of Science, claims that titanium has excellent qualities and that its endurance is what matters most for dental applications.
“Titanium, like aluminum, gets oxidized easily on the surface, but the oxidation on the surface actually protects the metal underneath it. It becomes like a natural coating to protect the metal underneath it,” Cheng added.
Furthermore, Laura Lewis, a prominent professor of chemical engineering at Northeastern University, notes that most tooth crowns are composed of gold, chromium, or alloys of chromium and nickel instead of titanium.
She also underlined that titanium generates a thin, unbreakable oxide layer that is both corrosion-resistant and biocompatible, suggesting it can endure interactions with human fluids and tissue without fragmenting, which is one of the many advantages that make it a popular material for implants in the body.
Well, titanium appears to provide some but not many risk factors, aside from the shocking amount of money it will cost your pocket.
Yet, given how much money Ye is spending, the recent oral makeover might be one of his publicity stunts as the rapper is gearing up for the release of Vultures, his collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, eyeing to be released on February 9.
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