A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Is it body modification?

I’ve always been split on exactly where various forms of “tooth art” fall on the “is it body modification” question. Clearly wearing temporary caps on ones teeth is not (and if is is, so is wearing a hat or a mask), but permanent caps? I think one could make the argument that they’re beginning to move into the same realm as an implant? But then what about dreads?

Is tooth filing the same as cutting fingernails? What about gluing gems onto ones teeth? What if they’re set into a drilled hole first? In any case, I was looking at dental fangs made by iam:DistortedSmiles in NYC (who’s at myspace.com/distortedsmiles), and the thing I was most thrilled about were his unique “orc” or troll style teeth… As a big fan of warthogs, this is a sort of fang that I’ve been hoping someone would figure out for a long time. There are more pictures of them after the break, and for BME members there are lots of pictures of how he makes them out of acrylic in the next update (which I may end up posting early; later tonight).

orc-teeth-1.jpg

orc-teeth-2.jpg

orc-teeth-3.jpg

Comments

102 responses to “Is it body modification?”

  1. Tsarvek Avatar
    Tsarvek

    Hi, My name is T’sarveK, and I started the whole fangs for the public thing some 30 years ago at NorthWest Con, a SiFi convention in Washington state. Hear And in other states the fangs are classed as a type of Jewelry, as in most cases they are removable.. They fit Over ones own teeth. As they are functional when made correctly, I count them as a body mod., personally. as for the issue of the acrylic holding up, I know of some of my customers fangs lasting for over 5 years, when properly taken care of. If they are pollished, the staining is minimal. The orc teeth shown are probably built like a Denture,as it looks like at least the front 8 lower teeth are done. I wonder if he had the uppers done too, and is not wearing them. The acrylic is dental acrylic and is very durable. They look like very good work.

  2. Tsarvek Avatar
    Tsarvek

    Hi, My name is T’sarveK, and I started the whole fangs for the public thing some 30 years ago at NorthWest Con, a SiFi convention in Washington state. Hear And in other states the fangs are classed as a type of Jewelry, as in most cases they are removable.. They fit Over ones own teeth. As they are functional when made correctly, I count them as a body mod., personally. as for the issue of the acrylic holding up, I know of some of my customers fangs lasting for over 5 years, when properly taken care of. If they are pollished, the staining is minimal. The orc teeth shown are probably built like a Denture,as it looks like at least the front 8 lower teeth are done. I wonder if he had the uppers done too, and is not wearing them. The acrylic is dental acrylic and is very durable. They look like very good work.

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