They may win titles and awards, walk red carpets, and bank the big dollars, so what else could actors, athletes, and celebrities really need? Dentists say some could really benefit from smile makeovers.
From Golden Globe winners to Super Bowl champs, no one was off limits when discussing the topic with DrBicuspid.
If Dr. Jeremy Manuele of Hamilton & Manuele Orthodontics in Las Vegas had his way, he would take a crack at the smile of eight-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.
Michael Phelps.Agência Brasil Fotografias/Wikipedia.
“Michael Phelps is one of the greatest athletes of our time, but his smile never quite reached the same gold-medal status,” Manuele said of the swimmer. “While he wore braces during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, his current smile still shows signs of narrow upper jaw development, particularly a constricted buccal corridor, where the sides of his smile appear dark or collapsed," he said.
"This type of arch form often impacts more than just aesthetics. It can affect nasal breathing, tongue posture, and even facial symmetry,” said Manuele.
If Manuele could get Phelps in his dental chair, he would recommend skeletal expansion using mini screw-assisted rapid palatal expansion. This treatment would give him a broader, more balanced smile that fills out the corners naturally, improved nasal airflow to support sleep quality, energy and long-term wellness, and enhanced tongue posture and midface development, improving form and function, he said.
“As a swimmer, efficient breathing is everything -– and while Michael may have adapted well –- optimizing nasal airflow through skeletal expansion could have enhanced his recovery, stamina, and even sleep quality,” Manuele said. “For everyday patients, the benefits are just as impactful. When we design smiles with both aesthetics and airway health in mind, the result isn’t just a better smile, it’s better long-term well-being.”
Speaking of athletes, Dr. Tyler Hales of Hales Aesthetic in Irvine, CA, would love to perfect the smile of Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes.Senior Airman Alec Risser/Wikipedia.
“I love him as a player and as a person,” Hales said. “He is a family man and a great business owner. He is a great example of success ... I doubt he needs more confidence by getting a better smile, but I would just love the opportunity to work with him and be part of his story of life.”
Dr. Catrise Austin, founder of VIP Smiles in New York and Flint, MI, and the host of the Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast, would like a chance to work on a few celebrities.
First, Austin would like to update the signature smile of comedian and "Family Feud" host Steve Harvey.
"But as a cosmetic dentist, I’d say his porcelain veneers are a bit too noticeable,” Austin said. “They’re overly bright, contrasting harshly with his skin tone and drawing attention for the wrong reasons. His two front teeth are also longer and more prominent than ideal, creating an unbalanced smile.”
If Austin had the chance, she would tone down the whiteness, soften the proportions of the front teeth, and add subtle details like translucency and texture to make them look more natural.
“The goal of elite cosmetic dentistry isn’t to make teeth perfect, it’s to make them look naturally beautiful,” Austin said. “I wear veneers myself, and no one ever knows. That’s how it should be.”
Secondly, Austin would like to improve actor Johnny Depp’s smile.
Johnny Depp. Canal22/Wikipedia.
“Johnny’s rugged, edgy look has always included imperfect teeth, and that’s totally fine,” Austin said. “But recently he got a smile makeover with veneers or crowns, and while the upper front six teeth now look improved in shape and color, the job looks unfinished," she said.
"When he smiles, there’s a dark negative space in the corners -- what we call a 'narrow smile corridor.' It makes his smile appear collapsed on the sides, possibly due to missing teeth or simply stopping the work too soon. He also doesn’t show his lower teeth much, so his upper arch should be broad and striking. I’d extend the dental work to the premolars and molars for a wider, fuller Hollywood smile that really complements his face and fills in the shadows,” Austin said.
Dr. Thomas Dobie of Dobie Revolution Orthodontics in Connecticut agreed that Depp’s smile needed an overhaul. Also, he’d like to improve the smile of actor Tom Cruise because “his midline is not centered with his face.”
Dr. Jessica Tasios, of Ora Dental in Toronto, thinks French singer and actress and former longtime partner of Depp Vanessa Paradis, who is known for her gap-toothed smile, would benefit from an updated smile.
“She has had enormous success as a model and actress, but it becomes more challenging for someone in that industry at 52,” Tasios said. “Plus, her teeth didn't appear as obvious in photos of her younger self. Perhaps she was wearing a device or her teeth could have shifted as she aged. The front gap appears more noticeable, and there appears to be some gaps on the other side of her front teeth. Her front teeth don't appear aligned with her nose.”
Though Paradis remains “lovely,” Tasios said teeth issues become a distraction from noticing the person.
“That is a major determinant of whether to fix teeth,” Tasios said. “Teeth issues that shift the focus from the rest of you, your intelligence, personality, talent, and overall beauty aren't helping you. Those should be corrected so they don't distract from your goals and dreams.”
Dr. Jennifer Moran, a cosmetic dentist at Water Tower Dental Care in Chicago and Hinsdale Dentistry in Hinsdale, IL, would like to work on the teeth of Walton Goggins, who starred in the most recent season of the satirical dark comedy "The White Lotus."
Walton Goggins.Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia.
“His teeth jump out at you,” Moran said. “They appear too long and too white and opaque. He has a high lip line, showing all of his teeth when smiling, but even at rest, his upper teeth show, and he seems to have difficulty closing his lips.”
Dr. Sandip Sachar of Sachar Dental in New York City, said she wouldn’t want to make over any celebrity’s smile.
“Perhaps a year ago I would have said Johnny Depp or Steven Buscemi or maybe even Joe Biden,” Sachar said. “But today, I’ll say none unless it is clinically necessary to make it a healthier smile. Cosmetic dentistry should be about health, comfort, and confidence, not changing a single standard of perfection.”
The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.
