Celebrity Teeth Before and After: What Usually Changes

When a well-known person's smile looks different over the years, the change usually comes from a handful of familiar treatments: whitening, veneers or crowns, gum contouring and orthodontics. Photos can't tell you which treatment was done, why, or what the person's teeth were like underneath. What they can show is how much shape, color and the gum line affect a smile, which is useful when you're thinking about your own.

Why can't you tell from a photo what was done?

Lighting, camera angle, makeup, lip position, retouching and filters all change how teeth look. A smile can look whiter in one photo simply because of the light, or wider because of the angle. Only an examination shows the health of the teeth and gums, the bite and what treatment, if any, was done. That's why I don't diagnose people from pictures, and why this article talks about treatments rather than individuals.

Which treatments are behind most visible smile changes?

Whitening

Whitening is often the first and simplest change. It lightens natural teeth without removing tooth structure. Very bright results stand out most on camera. Our teeth whitening page explains the options.

Veneers and crowns

When teeth suddenly look more uniform in color, length and shape, porcelain veneers or crowns are a common reason. Done well, they look like natural teeth. Done without attention to translucency and proportion, they can look too white, too even or too bulky. Those are the results people tend to notice.

Gum contouring

Some people show a lot of gum when they smile, or have teeth that look short because gum tissue covers part of them. Reshaping the gum line can make teeth look longer and more even. When the bone sits close to the gum line, a more involved procedure may be needed, so this always starts with an evaluation.

Orthodontics and clear aligners

Many adults straighten their teeth with braces or clear aligners. Alignment changes a smile without altering the teeth themselves, and it is often done before veneers or bonding so less tooth structure needs to be removed.

Keeping a gap or a distinctive feature

Not every change goes toward uniform teeth. Some performers have kept a gap between their front teeth, or another distinctive feature, as part of their recognizable look. If your teeth and gums are healthy, there's no clinical reason to close a stable gap you like. Our article on diastemas covers when a gap is worth a closer look.

What can you learn from celebrity smiles for your own?

• Start with health. Gum disease, decay or a bite problem should be treated before cosmetic work, or the result won't last.

• Bring photos you like. They help show what appeals to you, such as a brighter shade or softer shapes. Your face, lips and gums are different, so the design is built around you.

• Natural usually wears better. Teeth that match your skin tone, age and face tend to look right in person, not only in photos.

• Ask what each step changes. Whitening changes color, aligners change position, and veneers or bonding change shape. Many smiles need only one of these.

Thinking about a change to your smile?

New-patient visits at our office are about two hours, normally an hour with me and an hour in hygiene, so there is time to talk about what you'd like and to check the health of your teeth and gums first. Read more about cosmetic dentistry and our new patient visit, or contact the office at 3675 Hendricks Avenue in Jacksonville. You can also call 904-398-1549.

Sources

1. American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Veneers.

2. American Dental Association. Whitening (Oral Health Topics).

About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.

How to Deal With a Dental Emergency

For a knocked-out permanent tooth, a significant dental injury, severe tooth pain or painful swelling, contact a dentist promptly. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, keep it moist and get to a dentist right away, because the first hour matters most. Call 911 or go to an emergency department for difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading quickly in the face or neck, or serious bleeding that won't stop.

Should I call a dentist or go to the emergency department?

Call 911 or go to an emergency department for breathing or swallowing difficulty, rapidly spreading swelling or a serious injury such as a possible broken jaw or head injury. For a painful tooth, a chipped tooth or a broken restoration without these danger signs, contact a dentist for guidance. Our emergency dental care page explains how we handle urgent visits.

What should I do with a knocked-out tooth?

For a permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown, the part normally visible in the mouth, not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly with cold water without scrubbing. If you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it in place. Don't force it. If it won't go back, keep it moist in milk, in an approved tooth-preservation solution, or inside the cheek of an adult or older child who won't swallow it. Don't store it in plain water or wrap it dry. Then see a dentist immediately. [1, 2]

Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back into its socket. A child still needs prompt dental evaluation after the injury.

What if a tooth cracks or a crown comes out?

Rinse your mouth with warm water and use a cold compress on the cheek if there is swelling. Keep any recovered crown or fragment and contact the dentist. Do not use household glue. Avoid chewing on the affected tooth until you receive instructions. Read why a damaged tooth may need a crown for background after the urgent problem is assessed.

What can I do for a toothache while arranging care?

Rinse with warm water and gently remove trapped food with floss if you can do so comfortably. Do not place aspirin against the tooth or gums, because it can burn the tissue. [2] Our tooth-pain guide can help you describe the symptoms, but it does not replace an examination.

How do I reach our Jacksonville office?

Call the office at 904-398-1549. Explain the injury or symptoms, when they began and whether there is swelling. When someone is in pain, we try to see them the same day if we can.

The practice also has an on-call phone and text line, 904-762-5616. It may not be answered right away, so don't rely on it for an immediate response. For breathing or swallowing problems or rapidly spreading swelling, call 911. Please don't send sensitive health information by text.

If you can't reach us and the problem is urgent, see another available dentist or urgent care provider rather than waiting through worsening symptoms. Our office is at 3675 Hendricks Avenue, near San Marco. You can also contact us online for non-urgent questions.

Sources

1. Fouad AF, Abbott PV, Tsilingaridis G, et al. International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 2. Avulsion of permanent teeth. Dent Traumatol. 2020;36(4):331-342. doi:10.1111/edt.12573 (retrieved via PubMed)

2. American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Dental emergencies. Accessed October 6, 2026.

3. American Association of Endodontists. Knocked-out teeth.

4. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. First aid for a knocked-out permanent tooth.

About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.