This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Amna Faheem. Find her on Instagram at @amnaf.aheem. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Veneer this and tooth gap that, it seems like everyone has something to say about the dental hygiene and appearance of other people, especially celebrities. Nobody is embracing their natural smile anymore and is instead flocking to dentists and oral surgeons to fix a problem that doesn’t need fixing. While veneers are sometimes necessary to repair genuine issues that arise, the overwhelming reason that celebrities get veneers is simply for appearance purposes, to look more ‘perfect’ and keep the facade that they are flawless right down to their enamel. Seeing people ditch their true grins and unique ear-to-ear expressions has altered again the beauty standards we set in our society and how we view attractiveness among ourselves.
Teeth are sensitive things. They’re fickle, and one problem can ruin your whole day. Tooth decay, cracked teeth, stained teeth, misaligned and crooked teeth, and cavities can cause nerve damage, severe pain, and headaches due to the connection of nerves between your mouth and your brain. Commonly, people seek out veneers to fix discoloration that can be caused by a lack of adequate care or diet habits, chips in the tooth, gaps and misalignments, and missing or decayed teeth. Veneers are a thin material that is custom-made to the shape of each individual’s mouth to look as natural as possible. To put them on, the real teeth and enamel need to be shaved down a bit, and the front surface of the tooth needs to be slimmed for the veneers to fit comfortably and bond together. Traditional veneers are made up of porcelain, while no-prep veneers, also called lumineers, are able to be administered without shaving or removing any part of the enamel and do not look bulky or unnatural since they’re much thinner.
Impressions are taken of the teeth, and the molding is used to create the veneers to fit perfectly to your mouth and on top of your original teeth. The porcelain of traditional veneers is not perfect but is much more heavy-duty and doesn’t stain, while resin- another option used for veneers- is less expensive but more flexible. It’s rare now to see celebrities hold on to their natural teeth. It seems that everyone is coming out with a fake smile and an artificial grin. And in a time where everyone is encouraged to embrace their true selves and genuine appearances, to find confidence in how they look, and not feel the pressure to alter their outward look, it’s interesting that the biggest influencers in our society are doing just the opposite of that.
While veneers remain popular for purely aesthetic enhancements, other options like dental implants are chosen for functional needs—and it’s important to understand what the recovery process typically involves when making that decision. Celebrities who already have beautiful smiles and distinctive looks are turning towards cosmetic procedures and losing their individuality. Though some celebrities with teeth gaps, like Madonna, Margaret Qualley, and Vanessa Paradis, have chosen to hold onto their iconic looks, others have gone down the route of alterations and modifications.
The singer Miley Cyrus used to sport her natural teeth before she got veneers in her teenage years. Her original teeth were just a bit uneven, but they were otherwise unproblematic. After her veneer operation, she looked a bit unnatural, with the veneers seeming uncomfortable and awkward. Zac Efron was another celebrity with teeth gaps, though nothing absurd. His smile was very adorable and ordinary, save for the small space between his two front teeth. In 2006, the actor opted for veneers as well, though his are more organic and can be passed as his normal teeth.
It’s a shame that all these celebrities have been conditioned that in order to be attractive and confident, they must change their look and discard a smile that is beautiful and without issue. There is nothing wrong with a gap in your teeth or a slight off-white shade. In fact, normal teeth are not meant to be 100 percent white, but we have been trained to think otherwise. It’s hypocritical that social media trends are drilling into us the need to disregard societal pressures and shy away from beauty standards that are harmful, yet every time a celebrity appears on the red carpet, they have a new cosmetic procedure done to fit into the box that we have deemed as beautiful; anything else is too ‘unique’ and ‘different’ and not something that can be considered acceptable in the industry.
To be considered, you must shift to their predetermined benchmarks of beauty. That’s not fair to the rest of us.
What’s worse is that people who do not follow this norm and retain their natural look are praised. As if not changing their look and who they are has become something to be celebrated and not just the standard procedure. Commemorating a celebrity for holding onto their unique look and not getting cosmetic procedures is odd and gives us the impression that doing so is some sort of opposition. It should be common practice to accept how we look and not turn to veneers to amend our faces.
Which is why Aimee Lou Wood’s recent popularity surrounding her natural teeth and the unique gaps shook our culture a bit and forced us to think about our perception of beauty and our obsession with perfection. Her confidence and devil-may-care attitude were refreshing. Seeing someone on the big screen with a unique smile like Aimee Lou Wood was different, and it caught our eye. She, alongside Madonna and Vanessa, has reminded us that we don’t have to conform to the beauty standards set by celebrities and influencer culture. The constant conversation about how brave she is for keeping herself natural is too much, and such a thing should occur without so much attention.
Veneers are not always a bad thing. But when celebrities with teeth gaps and other unique smiles undergo the procedure and lose their peculiar look, it’s discouraging for the rest of us to welcome our own distinctive characteristics.
Would you consider getting veneers? Do you prefer celebrities with teeth gaps? Let us know in the comments below!
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