Pose, smile, camera flash! Every year we watch our favorite celebrities walk the red carpet looking like the image of perfection, with unique  tailored attires and, most importantly, the perfect smile. Celebrities are living the dream life, so we think. Still, they are also saddled with the  burden of always smiling at the cameras, the paparazzi, and the fans everywhere they go, whether they feel like it or not, everyone except Kanye West.

Behind the perfect smile of many celebrities we know and love are some of the world’s most renowned cosmetic dental professionals, whose job is to fix their dentition and adjust their smiles until it is almost irresistible.

One of such renowned dental surgeons in the L.A. region is Dr. Giri  Palani (FICOI, DDS). Dr. Palani’s recent press release summarizes the work that goes on behind the scenes at his facility; “I strive to help all  my patients have a healthy and beautiful smile, and ultimately a healthy and beautiful life. That’s the bottom line….”

Dr. Giri Palani is a leading dentist at the forefront of Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, having received his education in some of the most prestigious institutions like Marquette University School, the world renowned Cedars-Sinai Hospital, and UCLA. Dr. Palani’s facility  belongs to the 3% of dental facilities that own their in-house dental lab, which makes them one of the very few who can design and  manufacture an entire prosthesis within a day. This has allowed him the control, aesthetics, and superior quality to work with some very famous names. In this article, Dr. Palani explains how most of our favorite celebrities achieve their perfect smile.

Celebrities Who Have Fixed Their Smile

There are many reasons celebrities go to lengths to fix their smiles; for some, it is out of necessity, and for others, it’s just a way of looking  much better and feeling more confident.

Mike Tyson

For Iron Mike, it is easy to see why he would need some work done; Tyson has had quite a few teeth knocked out during his long, illustrious career. On June 28th, 1997, Mike Tyson stepped into the ring for what  would be one of his most iconic fights ever; the day he bit off a part of  Evanda Holyfield’s ear. However, one more thing stood out in that fight, Mike’s gold teeth, which had done the biting.

Mike lost his iconic gold-capped tooth when his pet tiger, Kenya, head butted him, and he had to replace it with tooth-colored restorations.  Mike Tyson had always had a beautiful smile, mainly because of his diastema or the gap between his front teeth; however, he got the gap covered in a dental makeover but soon regretted it after a wave of negative feedback. He later had the gap put back to return to his trademark smile.

“When it comes to how you want your teeth and your smile to look, there is really no limits to what can be achieved,” Dr. Palani explains, “My expertise is in rehabilitating smiles and making them healthy and beautiful. Say a tooth falls out during an accident on set or, during a professional football game or perhaps an NBA game, Dental Implants  can very easily make it as good as new. We have a desire to help everyone, from grandma to the celebrity on the silver screen. Everyone  deserves the perfect smile.”

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is perhaps one of the most loved Hollywood celebrities of  the last two decades; he also has one of the most amazing smiles in the  industry, but it wasn’t always like that.

Rewind to 1983 when a young Tom Cruise appeared in Risky Business;  it was clear that his teeth needed some straightening and some gaps and chips eliminated. As his celebrity grew, it was pertinent for The Mission Impossible star to get it all fixed; some braces and porcelain veneers did the trick, and voila! The Tom Cruise smile was born.

According to The American Dental Association, Veneers cost anywhere between $925 to $2,500 per tooth. However, Dr. Palani suggests that  most celebrities spend between $2,000 to $3,500 on their veneers, giving them that permanent, white, symmetrical, and confident smile. That’s a huge price to pay for the perfect smile.

I practice what you might call Holistic Dentistry,” Dr. Palani explains, “This kind of practice is based on the understanding that the mouth is  connected to the rest of the body; therefore, any disease or flaw in the mouth can affect the body and our confidence and personality. It’s our job as dental professionals to assess each patient individually and suggest the best procedures. Part of our appeal to the elite communities  is probably because of our eco-friendly offices, our use of the most biocompatible materials, and our customized treatments. Our unique  treatment plans may include everything from a package of herbal  toothpaste to vitamin complementation, gum conditioners, co-enzymes,  exercise, relaxation, nutritional counseling, and behavioral therapy. In other words, we don’t just create  the perfect smile; we sustain it and teach them to use it.”

Miley Cyrus

We all loved Hanna Montana’s goofy smile and crooked teeth, but as  Miley Cyrus transitioned from Disney darling to Hollywood diva, she reemerged with a perfect and beautiful smile that we have all learned to love. We will miss Hanna Montana’s smile, but this diva look is stunning  and befitting her celebrity.

According to Dr. Palani, Miley’s new-look teeth could have been  achieved with orthodontics, teeth whitening, or veneers. However, considering the rapid nature of her transformation, it is most likely that veneers were at play.

Morgan Freeman

Perhaps one of the most iconic actors of all time, Morgan Freeman is  known for his deep soothing voice and timeless displays in some of the most famous movies. However, his stained teeth and the gaps in his dentition were also apparent for a long time. Well, no more! Morgan  Freeman now has one of Hollywood’s whitest and most beautiful smiles, thanks to some teeth whitening and dental implants.

Dr. Palani is one of the nations leading experts in dental implants. He  has earned himself the designation of FICOI (fellow international  academy of osseointegration) and KOL (Key Opinion Leader) for several elite dental implants.

Dr. Palani was inspired by his father, who was also a dentist, but more so by watching his grandma, who often visited from India, deal with the complications of wearing dentures. He could see how difficult it was for her to speak, eat or smile, and he decided to find a solution. This drive eventually led him to dental school and to learn about dental implants from some of the country’s finest specialists.

In his words, “I was very curious and intrigued about how the science  behind dental implants works. I devoted all my time in dental school and  after school to learn how our jaw bone can bond to a titanium implant and learning how to perform a vast array of dental implants procedures. The advent of titanium implants has been a breakthrough for the  industry and the professionals who require them. They are light and  show good hard-tissue compatibility. It’s easy to screw them into the  jawbone, and they help maintain facial and jaw bone structure.”

Most of these dental procedures are considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance; they also cost a lot of upfront cash, especially in the case of veneers. However, these celebrities are paying the cost to look the part, and for most of them, it is an excellent investment for their  careers. Dr. Palani expects his practice to double and even triple in the next 3-5 years, but beyond working with the high and mighty, his end  goal is to be able to offer smile- makeovers for people in need as part of  his charity work. This is in keeping with his mantra, “everyone deserves  a beautiful smile.”