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).
Comments
102 responses to “Is it body modification?”
OOO i like.
I wonder how hard eating is?
OOO i like.
I wonder how hard eating is?
So, are those permanent?
I really like them, either way.
So, are those permanent?
I really like them, either way.
The real question is, how hard is it to dig up root vegetables?
The real question is, how hard is it to dig up root vegetables?
filing teeth is much different from filing your nails.
I may be wrong, but i don’t think teeth grow back like nails.
so, i would definatly say it is body modification
filing teeth is much different from filing your nails.
I may be wrong, but i don’t think teeth grow back like nails.
so, i would definatly say it is body modification
Wow… uhh, sign me up for fun teeth!
Wow… uhh, sign me up for fun teeth!
if he’s actually physically manipulating and/or “modifying” a part of his body, then it is, in definition, literally, “body mod.” What makes filing or painting one’s finger nails NOT body mod? i remember the nail etching from earlier posts, how is that much different?
I dont know much of anything about dreads, but if someone were to say dye their hair different colors or chemically staighten it, whats the difference? is it considered body mod if you’re modifying a part of your body from its natural form into something different?
i see a big discussion coming from this post!
if he’s actually physically manipulating and/or “modifying” a part of his body, then it is, in definition, literally, “body mod.” What makes filing or painting one’s finger nails NOT body mod? i remember the nail etching from earlier posts, how is that much different?
I dont know much of anything about dreads, but if someone were to say dye their hair different colors or chemically staighten it, whats the difference? is it considered body mod if you’re modifying a part of your body from its natural form into something different?
i see a big discussion coming from this post!
If this would be bodymodification, what about braces?
If this would be bodymodification, what about braces?
Summer–I totally agree with you, thanks for posting that. You almost said exactly what I was thinking
you rock
Summer–I totally agree with you, thanks for posting that. You almost said exactly what I was thinking
you rock
1. I’d love to hear this guy try to speak.
2. He really needs to clean that yellow shit up. I think I wanna puke.
1. I’d love to hear this guy try to speak.
2. He really needs to clean that yellow shit up. I think I wanna puke.
looks sweet
but i can only imagine a walk through a department store or mall
“are those real?”
“why would you do that”
“what about when you’re 60″
“can you reverse that?”
“you know how hard it will be to get a job?”
or my personal favorite
“doesn’t that hurt?”…(regarding my ears usually) yes i walk around in pain 24/7 like that guy from the da Vinci code, mhmm, it hurts all the time every waking second
looks sweet
but i can only imagine a walk through a department store or mall
“are those real?”
“why would you do that”
“what about when you’re 60″
“can you reverse that?”
“you know how hard it will be to get a job?”
or my personal favorite
“doesn’t that hurt?”…(regarding my ears usually) yes i walk around in pain 24/7 like that guy from the da Vinci code, mhmm, it hurts all the time every waking second
I think if you think about it technically, any of that falls under “modifying” your body. But the term “body modification” generally refers to a more limited selection of things. Breast reduction/implants, plastic surgery, nose jobs and the like are definitely a modification to one’s body, but isn’t really thought of as a “body modification”. I think it’s more how accepted and “mainstream” something is, if it makes people stare in the street, that determines if something is considered a “body modification”. Many employers look down on tattoos, piercing, scars, etc. but definitely don’t see a problem with braces and nose jobs. I think bearing that in mind, the fangs count.
I think if you think about it technically, any of that falls under “modifying” your body. But the term “body modification” generally refers to a more limited selection of things. Breast reduction/implants, plastic surgery, nose jobs and the like are definitely a modification to one’s body, but isn’t really thought of as a “body modification”. I think it’s more how accepted and “mainstream” something is, if it makes people stare in the street, that determines if something is considered a “body modification”. Many employers look down on tattoos, piercing, scars, etc. but definitely don’t see a problem with braces and nose jobs. I think bearing that in mind, the fangs count.
“but definitely don’t see a problem with braces and nose jobs.”
so in contrast, tattoos and piercings are wrong?
Personally I’ve never known anyone to stop and stare in a negative manner to my piercings or tattoos. I personally think that tattoos and piercings are becoming even more mainstream than nose jobs. If you think about it, the average person probably has had (or at least has a friend with) piercings or tattoos, but NOT a nose job.
l get what you’re trying to say, Cirrin, but I think the whole idea is its their own body, so wether it “counts” or not shouldn’t matter as long as they are happy with it.
“but definitely don’t see a problem with braces and nose jobs.”
so in contrast, tattoos and piercings are wrong?
Personally I’ve never known anyone to stop and stare in a negative manner to my piercings or tattoos. I personally think that tattoos and piercings are becoming even more mainstream than nose jobs. If you think about it, the average person probably has had (or at least has a friend with) piercings or tattoos, but NOT a nose job.
l get what you’re trying to say, Cirrin, but I think the whole idea is its their own body, so wether it “counts” or not shouldn’t matter as long as they are happy with it.
I would like to disagree with #6, I don’t think hair and nails really count since neither are living tissue. So when you change those you aren’t so much changing the body as something else that is already attached to the body. It may be an issue of semantics but then everything is. For hair and nail mods to count as body modifications to me they would have to alter the living part of the body that produces them (such as the nail bed or follicles).
Teeth however are a bit trickier I would like to think that permanent or semi-permanent changes to the actual teeth do count (even if i personally find them silly) since while the outer layers of teeth are not alive the inner pulp is.
I would like to disagree with #6, I don’t think hair and nails really count since neither are living tissue. So when you change those you aren’t so much changing the body as something else that is already attached to the body. It may be an issue of semantics but then everything is. For hair and nail mods to count as body modifications to me they would have to alter the living part of the body that produces them (such as the nail bed or follicles).
Teeth however are a bit trickier I would like to think that permanent or semi-permanent changes to the actual teeth do count (even if i personally find them silly) since while the outer layers of teeth are not alive the inner pulp is.
in response to #11&12
I agree that plastic surgery is definitely a form of body modification, who could argue it isn’t, all with the cutting things off and sticking things in – i mean hell they peel off most of your face from your head during a full face lift!
However, I think these are generally grouped differently because plastic surgery, as well as braces and tooth whitening, is a means to modify the body within the general scope of what is naturally possible.
On the other hand what we generally consider as body modification within this community are methods of modifying the body for adornment or ritual purposes, most of which are well out side the realm of natural possibility.
There is of course overlap between the two paradigms, say porn stars getting breast implants that are literally larger then their heads…..but thats a matter for another discussion entirely.
in response to #11&12
I agree that plastic surgery is definitely a form of body modification, who could argue it isn’t, all with the cutting things off and sticking things in – i mean hell they peel off most of your face from your head during a full face lift!
However, I think these are generally grouped differently because plastic surgery, as well as braces and tooth whitening, is a means to modify the body within the general scope of what is naturally possible.
On the other hand what we generally consider as body modification within this community are methods of modifying the body for adornment or ritual purposes, most of which are well out side the realm of natural possibility.
There is of course overlap between the two paradigms, say porn stars getting breast implants that are literally larger then their heads…..but thats a matter for another discussion entirely.
i wonder how his jaw feels, since he’s forcing himself to make an underbite in the photos. longterm wear of those would hurt!
i wonder how his jaw feels, since he’s forcing himself to make an underbite in the photos. longterm wear of those would hurt!
To me, modification is modification, regardless of the intent. When you alter, subtract from, or add on to the body, you modify it. Period. My stretched ears are no different than a nose job. I like them because they look and feel good to me. If i were to get a nose job, it would look and feel good to me because I have a big fat nose that to me, looks out of place on my face and doesn’t feel like it belongs. No difference! Tattoos make the way I look more pleasurable to me, implants feel good. It makes no difference why someone changes their body, imo, unless its for someone other than themselves!
To me, modification is modification, regardless of the intent. When you alter, subtract from, or add on to the body, you modify it. Period. My stretched ears are no different than a nose job. I like them because they look and feel good to me. If i were to get a nose job, it would look and feel good to me because I have a big fat nose that to me, looks out of place on my face and doesn’t feel like it belongs. No difference! Tattoos make the way I look more pleasurable to me, implants feel good. It makes no difference why someone changes their body, imo, unless its for someone other than themselves!
wow incredible! they look excellent
wow incredible! they look excellent
Those make it look like he has an underbite…which might be uncomfortable.
Those make it look like he has an underbite…which might be uncomfortable.
Plastic Surgery IS modifying your body.
Body Building IS modifying your body.
and yes, at least in my eyes, putting on wigs, false teeth, make up,etc IS modifying your body.
It may not be semi or permanent(long term wearing) modifications…But body modification is changing something that your body naturally looks like.
Just like The Lizardman said in terms of modification its all linear but each persons view of modification is scattered all through-out that line….So where one person things having dreads, putting on makeup, filing your nails strange shapes,etc is weird and modification…another will say that’s not modification, plastic surgery is…Then another will say body building is…another will say cutting off your toe is modifying the body,etc.
Personally I think that Warthog/Orc teeth can be viewed as modification, especially since its going really against the norm of what standard/average human teeth look like.
It’s making me really want to play Warcraft lmao
Plastic Surgery IS modifying your body.
Body Building IS modifying your body.
and yes, at least in my eyes, putting on wigs, false teeth, make up,etc IS modifying your body.
It may not be semi or permanent(long term wearing) modifications…But body modification is changing something that your body naturally looks like.
Just like The Lizardman said in terms of modification its all linear but each persons view of modification is scattered all through-out that line….So where one person things having dreads, putting on makeup, filing your nails strange shapes,etc is weird and modification…another will say that’s not modification, plastic surgery is…Then another will say body building is…another will say cutting off your toe is modifying the body,etc.
Personally I think that Warthog/Orc teeth can be viewed as modification, especially since its going really against the norm of what standard/average human teeth look like.
It’s making me really want to play Warcraft lmao
Holy shit, I’m in love!
Holy shit, I’m in love!
oh! extreme…
crazy and incredible!
oh! extreme…
crazy and incredible!
i wonder about the ramifications of this in the long term. his jaw looks like it is sitting forward even when closed, so if he doesn’t naturally have an underbite i wonder if it gets tired. also, most teeth caps and veneers are ceramic or porcelain (mostly the same deal, if i’m not mistaken), right? will acrylic even hold up? will it discolor? ah! so many questions. also, how did he stick them on? i assume he roughed up his natural teeth with a drill first like a dentist would do to get them to stick… good lord, i don’t know why i’m so curious about this.
i wonder about the ramifications of this in the long term. his jaw looks like it is sitting forward even when closed, so if he doesn’t naturally have an underbite i wonder if it gets tired. also, most teeth caps and veneers are ceramic or porcelain (mostly the same deal, if i’m not mistaken), right? will acrylic even hold up? will it discolor? ah! so many questions. also, how did he stick them on? i assume he roughed up his natural teeth with a drill first like a dentist would do to get them to stick… good lord, i don’t know why i’m so curious about this.
they arent real folks
they arent real folks
“As a big fan of warthogs….”
that just really cracked me up for some reason
“As a big fan of warthogs….”
that just really cracked me up for some reason
WOW how did I not NOTICE THIS?!?!?!
WOW how did I not NOTICE THIS?!?!?!