Which Star’s Smile?

Which Star's Smile Fits Your Face?

Making a Celebrity Mug (If You’re Old Enough)

NEW YORK, N.Y. — For as long as there have been celebrities, young woman have been striving to emulate them. In the seventies, it was Farrah Fawcett’s hair; in the eighties, Madonna’s clothes; and in the nineties, we figured out how to get Angelina Jolie’s lips. And now in the new millennium, fans can actually reshape their teeth and mouths to achieve their favorite celebrity’s smile.

Leading Manhattan cosmetic dentist Dr. Clifford Williams regularly deals with patients seeking the smile of a star. "It’s not uncommon for 13- to 18-year-olds-and even women in their twenties-to come in wanting mouths like Julia Roberts, Sarah Michelle Geller and, of course, Britney Spears," says Dr. Williams. "It may seem impossible, but dentists can now mold your mouth to look like that of almost any star."

But how do they know if Britney’s mouth is going to look right on them? And once they determine whose grin they want to emulate, the question on parent’s lips is this: Is their child old enough?

WHICH SMILE FOR WHOSE FACE

Fortunately, most good dentists have equipment that allows teens to see themselves with a virtual dental makeover. "Thanks to digital imaging, we can demonstrate to a patient how they might look with a particular celebrity’s smile," says Dr. Williams, who is one of a select few dentists voted by his peers to enter the elite American Academy of Restorative Dentistry. "Amanda Peet may be your favorite star, but your jaw line might be more conducive to Catherine Zeta Jones. Many teens are surprised about how fantastic they look with one celebrity’s smile, and how silly they would look with another’s."

Once they determine which star’s smile best suits the shape of a patient’s face, cosmetic dentists use several techniques to achieve it. "Thanks to veneers, implants and orthodontics, there is not much a good dentist can’t do-to the point where the work we do on the teeth can actually change the shape and width of the mouth and lips," continues Dr. Williams.

ARE YOU OLD ENOUGH?

But not every mouth is ready to accept all of the procedures. Depending on the level of development of the teeth and the maturity of the jaw, certain changes can and can’t be made.

Following are age guidelines for teens to follow when emulating the mugs of their favorite celebrities:

BONDING: 7- to 10-years-old

If a tooth has some mild discolorization or small chips, bonding is the way to go when patients’ mouths aren’t yet fully developed. Bonding is very non-invasive and will achieve the same look as veneers, but they’re temporary. And when they’re ready to be replaced after a few years, the tooth is usually mature enough for veneers.

PORCELAIN VENEERS: 14- to 15-years-old

Porcelain Veneers are great if a tooth is mildly crooked but not crooked to the point of getting braces. And by this age, the teeth and face are mature enough and strong enough to handle it.

WHITENING: 16- to 17-years-old

Both in-office and home whitening are great for completing that celebrity smile. By 16- to 17-years-old, the enamel is fully calcified and we can achieve a spectacular whiteness that will last for some time.

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