Lil Wayne's Teeth: Too Much Bling for Prison?

Lil Wayne’s teeth, already famous for being encrusted with gold and diamonds, are now also famous for holding up the start of his prison sentence. Was his dental operation, which reportedly involved eight root canals and other work on his $150,000 mouth, actually a removal of the jewels in preparation for his jailing? Perhaps. Such valuables aren’t, technically, allowed in prison, Slate reports—but an exception is typically made when they’re part of a person’s mouth.

The rapper has made a point (see video) of distinguishing between the typical “grill,” which is removable, and his jewels, which are permanently affixed to his teeth. There are no prison rules specifically addressing dental implants, but Rikers puts a value limit on inmates’ watches, wedding rings, and religious medallions to curb bartering and fighting. Then again, as Wayne himself has pointed out, his bling would be fairly difficult to remove—and may even be considered necessary for eating, like a gold filling.
(More Lil Wayne stories.)