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UPDATE: This post was updated at 12:57 p.m. on April 1, 2025.

Seydou Diao unlocks his iPhone for one reason.

Not to respond to text messages or check the time, but to check his clients’ customized grillz orders. Everything from studded gems to dental equipment to textbooks lie on his desk.

While some dorms or student apartments may have TVs, PlayStations or even Sephora products scattered across the room, both Diao’s living room and bedroom have transformed into a grillz business.

“I used to always see grillz in the media,” Diao said. “The oldheads with the single gold cap in their teeth, I used to always think that was cool.”

Diao creates custom grillz from the comfort of his own apartment. His grillz designs range from single tooth caps to some that include the Chanel logo. All of his orders are made through his Instagram account, @imakegrills. When he’s not creating grillz, he’s a mechanical engineering student at Syracuse University.

Diao’s mother, Sandy Lawrence, a user experience designer, is familiar with the mechanical spirit. Lawrence described her father as someone who tinkered around in their garage to fix things. She thinks her son picked up the design gene from her dad.

Diao’s interest in grillz goes back to his childhood. As a kid, Diao was involved in robotics and enjoyed doodling in his sketchbook, so it didn’t surprise Lawrence that he wanted to make grillz.

“He was always mechanically inclined to see how things are done and figure some things out,” Lawrence said. “When he decided to do mechanical engineering, it wasn’t far off.”

When he saw actor Luka Sabbat flashing a detailed design of the Last Supper, he was inspired to start his own grillz-making business. Diao began his grillz venture after his internship fell through this past summer.

Lawrence remembers her son’s first summer making grillz for customers. Every week, friends and people referred to Diao came by their house to get molds and designs.

Diao received funding through Invent@SU and used the money to build his business. He researched the proper dental equipment to use while balancing academics. Diao didn’t want to jump into orders and go in not knowing anything. So, for a year, he balanced school with trying out grillz on his friends.

The first set of grillz Diao ever made was for a friend’s birthday, but they didn’t fit. Diao uses past design flukes like these to improve future molds.

“It was just a lot of trial and error,” Diao said.

Diao’s customers come first in his design process, even though the process is complicated. He spot checks every set of grillz so he can be as accurate as possible the first go around.

His interest in mechanical engineering and the skills he learned along the way help him with his design process. Diao purchased dental equipment like caster sets, impressions and polishing tools to create his grillz sets. He enjoys finding the balance between design and functionality.

While Diao likes receiving specific orders, freestyling designs for grillz based on customers’ ideas comes naturally to him. Some of his favorite orders include a full set with a green enamel design and a silver intricate spiked design.

“I like when people come to me with inspiration, when people come to me with a general idea of what they like and I am able to play with something based on that concept,” Diao said.

Using dental equipment like caster sets, impressions and polishing tools, Syracuse University senior Seydou Diao creates his own grillz sets. He enjoys finding the balance between design and functionality. Collin Snyder | Staff Photographer

It isn’t just about creating a customized piece. For Diao, the customer’s reaction to the design makes the product worth it — it’s like something “they only imagined on paper.” It brings Diao joy to see the reactions of his customers because every piece is distinct, tailored to the customer.

When Diao created a set of grillz for a childhood friend who’s now a DJ, his clientele increased. More friends came his way, and his clientele became more diverse.

His setup in his apartment entices new clients, too. When he posts his setup on Instagram, people see the professional dental equipment strewn across Diao’s desk.

“I guess it’s seeing somebody working on their craft and dealing with their metal feels like something official and I feel like that draws a lot of people in,” Diao said.

John Ayoola Fadugbagbe, an SU senior studying political science, met Diao his freshman year through mutual friends. Fadugbagbe was impressed with how Diao used his mechanical engineering skills to create grillz. As a fellow creative himself, Fadugbagbe wanted to support his friend.

“I see him more as a family now than a friend. He is like my brother,” Fadugbagbe, a fashion designer, said.

Fadugbagbe has purchased 12 custom grillz sets from Diao, and the excitement he feels every time he receives an order matches his response to the first set he ever got from Diao. One of his favorites is a silver design that has his nickname, “FADUG,” engraved on the mold. This set is also featured as Diao’s Instagram profile picture.

Seeing the final product was a “full circle moment” for Fadugbagbe. Diao was able to bring his friend’s design to life.

“He sketched every single design, he did all of the casting himself and it was just so impressive to see how far he has come and how he had an idea of making grillz,” Fadugbagbe said.

Steven Morales, a senior studying economics at SU, is Diao’s roommate and a close friend of 10 years. He has his own custom grillz, a silver 6-piece bottom set, made by Diao.

Like Fadugbagbe, Morales is inspired by Diao’s work ethic and commitment to designing grillz. Assisting Diao with his business venture is important, but helping his friend is what really matters to Morales. He sometimes checks to see if the molds are in good condition and fit the customers accurately.

“I’ll go into his room at 2:00 a.m. and he will be in complete silence working on grillz,” Morales said. “When he has orders, he is determined to finish them.”

Being his roommate, Morales sees Diao’s business trials and triumphs firsthand. Sometimes Diao is overwhelmed by the bulk of orders, until he remembers why he started making grillz in the first place.

Seydou Diao is a senior at Syracuse University, studying mechanical engineering while creating and designing grillz. Some of his favorite orders include a full set green enamel design and a silver intricate spiked design. Collin Snyder | Staff Photographer

Running a business and being a student can be challenging, but Diao tries to be realistic about his future goals. He knows he can be ambitious while also being mindful of areas where he can improve.

“You have to be willing and invested enough in your idea to put the money in and take the time,” Diao said.

Diao enjoys making grillz, but he hopes to land a job in mechanical engineering post-graduation. Though engineering and grillz seem like two different worlds, Lawrence believes Diao can have the best of both worlds by becoming an engineer and still running his grillz business.

“I just hope that he just gets to pursue it (mechanical engineering) and then continues with the artistry of doing grillz on his own time,” Lawrence said.

Fadugbagbe emphasized how important it is to have a friend like Diao who also works in the creative and entrepreneurial space. He’s excited for Diao’s future.

“It inspires me to keep excelling and to keep working on my own thing,” Fadugbagbe said.

For Fadugbagbe, grillz represent more than just jewels for the teeth.

“It ties into cultural representation and grillz, it’s just recognition of the beauty behind Black culture, the connection it has with our own individual identity, like artistic expression,” Fadugbagbe said.

Morales believes that Diao’s grillz business allows customers to feel comfortable in a style they might have never worn before, and Diao knows what types of grillz are best for someone. Morales said that Diao’s designs can help to normalize grillz through a college audience.

From Diao’s designs of the continent of Africa to the Nike logo, grillz are a form of creative expression for him to share a message.

“This is a way of storytelling via mouth art. It’s an opportunity to elevate what it is and own the narrative of what you’re trying to do, and make it classy, make it flashy.” Lawrence said. “However you want to do it.”

Published on March 27, 2025 at 1:23 am