A gappy smile is common among adolescents, but once you are an adult, especially a famous adult, too much spacing between the teeth can be unflattering. Beverly Hills, CA, cosmetic dentist Laurence R. Rifkin, DDS, says LeAnn Rimes’ less-than perfect smile at a young age is a perfect example of this. Over the years, her look has taken on several transformations, but it’s the dramatic difference in her smile that’s catapulted her from average to A-lister.
So how did the star go from gappy to glam? “Her smile is now beautiful, which is probably the result of six to eight veneers that closed the gaps and improved her teeth size and overall harmony with her lips,” says Dr. Rifkin. “The gumline also looks like it may have been adjusted.”
A smile without gaps is not only more elegant, it is also more feminine looking. The smoothed-out edges at the bottom also help contribute to a movie star smile. “Rounded teeth are traditionally more feminine than those with rigid, blunt edges,” says Atlanta cosmetic dentist Ronald E. Goldstein, DDS.
To get a smile like LeAnn’s you can add length to short teeth (or to disguise chips), by bonding. It is performed by layering clear coats of tooth-colored plastic on the bottoms of your front teeth. For a more dramatic alternative, veneers can be placed over the entire front surface of the teeth to add height and hide spaces, gaps, misalignment and discoloration.
Related:
Kirsten Dunst’s Smile Makeover: From Crooked to Confident
