The internet can be a cruel place, especially if you’re a hip-hop mogul who built an empire on the concept of "pause" and unwavering bravado. Damon "Dame" Dash found this out the hard way back in September 2024. One minute he's on Instagram Live, aggressively challenging 50 Cent to a "CEO War," and the next, his front teeth are literally making a break for it.
It was a clip that went nuclear. 50 Cent, never one to miss a chance to kick a rival while they’re down, immediately pounced. The narrative quickly became that Dame Dash was broke, toothless, and wearing "cheap dentures." But like most things involving Dame, the reality is a mix of dental technicalities, a 20-year-old surgery, and some pretty serious underlying health battles.
The Moment the Grills Fell Out
If you haven't seen the video, it's visceral. Dame is talking his usual talk—questioning 50 Cent’s business acumen and television network—when he takes a sip of water. Suddenly, his top row of teeth shifts and essentially pops out of position. He quickly turned the camera away, but the damage was done.
Social media went into a frenzy. Was Dame Dash wearing dentures? Had the man who once bragged about never wearing the same pair of sneakers twice fallen so far that he couldn't afford a dentist?
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Dame didn't hide for long. He jumped back on IG to "clear the air," and honestly, he seemed more amused than embarrassed. He popped the "teeth" out again on purpose to show the camera what was actually going on.
"First of all, s**t is not dentures. These are my grills," he explained.
He revealed that the empty space in his mouth was actually due to dental implants he’d had for over two decades. According to Dame, those implants had reached their expiration date and literally broke. He wasn't "toothless" in the traditional sense; he was in the middle of a massive dental reconstruction.
Why 20 Years is the Magic Number
A lot of people think dental implants are like a permanent "set it and forget it" solution. They aren't. While the titanium post that goes into the jawbone can last a lifetime, the crowns and the hardware connecting them can fail.
Dame explained that he got his original work done about 20 years ago. Over time, the materials can degrade, or the underlying bone structure can shift. In Dame’s case, he claimed five of his implants actually broke. That’s not just a cosmetic issue; it's a painful, structural nightmare that makes eating and talking difficult.
Dr. Brandon Mack, a cosmetic dentist Dame eventually visited at Eden Dental Aesthetics, confirmed that the mogul was undergoing a total overhaul. The "no teeth" look was a temporary phase during the "healing" period of his new surgery. You can't just slap new permanent teeth onto fresh surgical sites. There’s a waiting game involved.
It’s Not Just About the Teeth
While the internet was laughing at the dental mishap, there was a darker side to the story. Dame Dash has been vocal about his life with Type 1 diabetes for years. It’s a condition that complicates everything, especially surgery and healing.
Around the same time his dental issues went viral, Dame appeared in interviews wearing a bandage over his eye. He wasn't trying to start a new fashion trend. He revealed he had to undergo eye surgery to remove liquid (gel) because of diabetic complications.
Diabetes and oral health are closely linked. People with diabetes are at a much higher risk for gum disease and infections, which can lead to the very implant failures Dame experienced. When your blood sugar isn't perfect, your body struggles to fight off the bacteria that attack the foundation of your teeth.
The Financial "Broke" Allegations
You can’t talk about Dame Dash's teeth without talking about his bank account. 50 Cent’s favorite jab is that Dame is "broke." And to be fair, the numbers coming out of court haven't looked great.
In late 2025, reports surfaced that Dame filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. He allegedly claimed assets of less than $5,000 while facing liabilities north of $25 million. He’s been ordered to sell his remaining stake in Roc-A-Fella Records—the very thing he helped build—to pay off a massive $800,000 judgment to filmmaker Josh Webber.
When your teeth fall out on camera and the news says you have $0 in monthly income, people put two and two together. The assumption was that he couldn't afford to fix his mouth. However, by September 2025, Dame was showing off a brand-new set of permanent implants, proving that despite the legal drama, he managed to prioritize the surgery.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the "falling teeth" were a sign of poor hygiene or a sudden loss of health.
- They weren't dentures. They were a temporary bridge or "flipper" designed to look like his diamond grills while his gums healed from the removal of the broken implants.
- It wasn't a "glitch." It was a mechanical failure of old hardware.
- The "no teeth" look was intentional. To get the new implants in, the old ones had to be cleared out, leaving him with those gaps for months.
Honestly, Dame’s response was very... Dame. He leaned into it. He called it "funny" and used the attention to drive traffic to his America Nu network. It was a classic "bosses take losses" moment, where he tried to turn a public embarrassment into a lesson on resilience.
Lessons from the Dame Dash Dental Saga
If you’re looking at this story and wondering what it means for the average person, there are some actual takeaways. Dental health isn't just about a white smile; it's a reflection of internal health, especially for those managing chronic conditions like diabetes.
- Check your hardware: If you have implants or bridges that are older than 10 or 15 years, get them checked. They don't last forever.
- Diabetes and Dental: If you're diabetic, your dentist needs to be your best friend. Infections move faster and hit harder.
- The "Healing Phase": If you see someone with missing teeth who previously had a full set, they’re likely in the "middle" of a long medical process. Dental reconstruction is a marathon, not a sprint.
By late 2025, Dame Dash appeared on The Breakfast Club and other platforms with a fully restored smile. He called them his "new diamonds." Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit the man knows how to stage a comeback—even if he has to do it one tooth at a time.
If you are dealing with similar dental issues or considering implants, the first step is a comprehensive consultation to check bone density, especially if you have underlying health conditions. Don't wait for a viral moment on Instagram Live to realize your 20-year-old dental work is failing. Contact a prosthodontist to evaluate the structural integrity of any existing implants and create a long-term maintenance plan.