Everyone who's anyone was at Cannes this year, with Penélope Cruz, Demi Moore, Bella Hadid and Simone Ashley among the stars pulling out all of the stops.
While each and every attendee looked sensational, social media (never the kindest place) was quick to critique the smiles of the stars on the red carpet, writing that many of our most glamorous celebrities have gone too big and too white with their Hollywood smiles. "Too toothy," one detractor commented - the stars can't win, sometimes!
And social media commentators aren't alone in their belief that the Hollywood smile has finally had its day, with dental expert Dr. Sepideh Jalal Jalali of The Tooth Club commenting: "There has been a massive shift from ultra-white, high-gloss veneers and the 'Turkey teeth' look, to a more personalised natural smile. Patients now want smiles that suit their face, personality, and age."
© Getty ImagesIn an age where people are opting to have filler dissolved and we're seeing a backlash to AI-generated perfection, it seems our collective aesthetic palette is shifting in favour of something a little more…real.
"I have seen a change after the influence of White Lotus star Aimee Lou Woods' smile, which has helped people embrace their natural imperfections and rethink irreversible treatments," says Sepideh, who notes that awareness of the long-term damage of full veneers on oral health has also helped drive the trend with patients seeking minimally invasive options such as clear aligners, whitening, and composite bonding.
© Getty Images"Many of my patients are actually thrilled that no one notices they've had work done," adds Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke, Principal Dentist and founder at LUCEO Dental. "They're getting comments like 'You’ve got great teeth,' rather than 'Where did you get your teeth done?' and that's the ultimate compliment."
Bespoke bonding
On the shift in tooth preferences, Sepideh says: "Two decades ago, it was all about masking everything with veneers or crowns; now, it's about enhancing what you already have with more conservative techniques.
"I use 3D scans, digital smile design software and mock-ups to plan minimal and precise treatments for my patients with composite bonding coming to the fore thanks to huge improvements in strength and appearance."
According to the pros, composite bonding is the modern option for minimal aesthetic correction, working with patients' natural teeth, rather than against them.
Intentional imperfection
Whilst white, straight teeth will never go out of fashion, Tom notes that perfection is not the aim: "Some patients even want to keep certain quirks like a small front gap or slightly longer central incisors to preserve their unique smile."
Picture Sabrina Carpenter's teeth, for example, straight and white, but with characterful canines, giving personality to her smile.
© FilmMagicWorking with one of the world's leading ceramists who intentionally adds 'imperfections', the team at Luceo have a protocol to elicit the most natural-looking result including adding imperceptible stains and tints to mimic a natural tooth, replicating translucency and a white 'halo' tint across the bottom of the tooth and most importantly, keeping an ever-so-slight warmth for "really incredible natural white teeth rather than obviously fake white teeth."
Princess Kate's smile, for example, is often described as perfectly imperfect. Why? "Kate's smile doesn't look over-straightened or overly symmetrical, which is key to its authenticity," explains oral surgeon Dr. Andrej Bozic. On how to achieve an authentic smile like The Princess of Wales, Bozic says: "Our team often uses techniques such as micro-adjustments and customised whitening that enhance without overwhelming the natural shape and colour of the teeth."
© Getty ImagesFang finesse
It's the small things that matter most when it comes to transforming a smile, notes Sepideh. "Edge contouring and polishing is an easy treatment that subtly refines natural teeth," he says, noting that lasers are also employed to reduce gummy smiles and balance uneven gum lines – known as 'gum contouring'.
"It's all about the finer details," agrees Tom. "Subtle improvements in shape, size, and symmetry can make all the difference. It's not about changing the smile completely, but enhancing what’s already there."
So, flash that gap-toothed smile with pride; you’re helping to heave the broader cultural shift away from the antiquated one-size-fits-all aesthetic, one artfully crooked tooth at a time.
