The ‘Hollywood smile’ of perfectly straight, white teeth has long been associated with the rich and famous – but even some of the biggest stars needed professional help to achieve their enviable smile.
Before they became A-list names like Demi Moore, Celine Dion, and Tom Cruise had very different teeth to what we’re used to seeing today – and some have undergone a complete smile makeover.
Over the years, they and many others have transformed their appearance by modifying the appearance of their teeth with the help of cosmetic dentistry, be it veneers, composite bonding or teeth whitening.
We spoke to leading cosmetic dentist and President-elect of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Sam Jethuaof Personal smileto shed some light on what he believes the following celebrities have done to achieve their dramatic teeth transformations.
Kanye West
The rapper shocked his fans when he revealed his $850,000 titanium teeth, which Dr. Jethwa revealed that they could “lead to complications” if they are permanent – something he strongly advises against.
“From the photo, it looks like he may have had the top teeth removed at the back. The dynamics of his smile suggest that this could be a permanent feature and he may have had teeth removed to achieve this, as it could be an implant,” he said.
“A titanium screw should be drilled into the gum. It’s such a shame as his smile looked incredibly healthy in the past and was very natural.” he continued.
Kanye’s new dentures may be temporary though, with Dr. Jethwa explains that it may only be “a covering of his natural teeth and may have been achieved using something similar to a cosmetic brace, but not to straighten the teeth”.
He added: “However, I strongly advise against it. It can cause damage to natural teeth, can cause enamel wear, trap food particles and can also irritate the gums.”
Demi Moore
While the Ghost The actress, who previously had “perfectly straight” teeth, appears to have enhanced her smile with veneers.
“The main differences I can spot are the size and shape of the teeth and the color. This suggests she had veneers, which can create a stronger, whiter and more even smile.” said Dr Jethwa.
“In the before picture, the upper gum is more visible than in the next picture. This suggests that he may have contoured the gums before applying the veneers.”
Explaining the procedure, he said that laser gum contouring “involves the use of a high-powered laser to create an uneven contour or extra gum tissue with the goal of reshaping the gums to appear smaller and/or neater in proportion to the teeth.” . .
Celine Dion
The power of love The singer appears to have opted for a complete smile makeover, with Dr Jethwa believed to have had veneers on her top eight teeth.
“This is common for people who want a full smile, as these are the teeth that show the most,” she said.
“The difference between the before and after pictures is the shape of the teeth.
“The veneers used allowed for an incredibly symmetrical, balanced and harmonious smile and is in keeping with her facial features.
“The veneers are not too big, they fit her smile perfectly.”
Tom Cruise
The Top Gun The transformation of the star’s teeth appears to be the result of extensive treatments.
“I would suggest that Tom Cruise has had a lot of dental treatment to improve his smile and his oral health.” said Dr Jethwa.
“It’s clear from the previous image that his teeth were incredibly misaligned. Misaligned and crooked teeth can cause oral health problems, they are more susceptible to tooth decay as they can be incredibly difficult to clean,” he added.
“Not only that, but they can cause problems with speech and with a person’s bite. To correct this, I would suggest fixed braces.”
Explaining the advantages of fixed braces over treatments like Invisalign, Dr. Jethwa said: “Fixed braces work by moving the teeth into the correct position while applying gentle pressure. Small brackets are welded to the teeth and then connected with a wire.
“The wire is used to create tension, moving the teeth into alignment. I would recommend fixed braces for complex cases as they are extremely accurate.”
Millie Bobby Brown
The Stranger Things The actress seems to have enhanced her smile with some strategic tweaks.
“It seems to me Millie Bobby Brown may have had complex bonding on the two front teeth and extremely fine facets on the canine teeth.” Dr Jethwa told us.
“Although in the next image, her smile appears more even, it is not straight enough to suggest that she had cosmetic braces. In many cases, if the teeth are not too misaligned, composite bonding and/or veneers can allow a more even smile.”
He continued: “The shape of the canine teeth has changed dramatically in the second image, suggesting ultra-fine porcelain veneers, allowing for a natural effect.
“The bottom edges of the two front teeth look neater, which can be achieved through composite bonding.”
Composite bonding is “non-invasive and involves applying a tooth-colored composite resin to the surface of the tooth, which is then shaped and polished.”
Dr Jethwa added: “In this case, composite bonding has worked very well to improve the overall alignment and symmetry of the teeth.”
Nicole Kidman
The Big Little Lies The star appears to have changed her teeth with gum contouring and veneers.
“Looking at his past pictures Nicole Kidmanwe can see that her upper gums are visibly noticeable, which can make the teeth appear smaller,” said Dr Jethwa.
“This suggests that she has undergone a dental procedure called gum contouring to deal with the extra gum tissue, but not only that, the tooth shapes have been refined to match.”
Dental veneers seem to have played a big role in changing Nicole’s smile. “Veneers may be necessary to create a more even smile, which I believe Nicole had.” he added.
“Dental veneers are essentially a cover over natural teeth and will be made from either composite resin or porcelain. They are attached to the front of the tooth to change its color, shape, size or length.”
Note: Dr. Sam Jethwa has not treated the above celebrities.
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