Celebrities And Their Perfect Grills: The Pricey Procedure They Use To Get Them

If the looks of our favorite Hollywood stars seem impossible to attain through normal exercise, deep conditioners and makeup, a good push-up bra, and an at-home teeth whitening treatment, that's because they are.

More often than not, the thick, lustrous hair they swing on the red carpet is fortified with heavy doses of weave, their perfect bodies come from strict diets and hours upon hours of work with personal trainers -- with some good ol' plastic surgery possibly thrown in -- and their teeth? Well, those perfectly-straight, pearly whites are likely the result of some pricey cosmetic dentistry.

More and more celebs are opting for porcelain veneers, a quick-but-expensive way to make their grills camera-ready. New York-based cosmetic dentist, Dr. Lee Gause, told Black Voices that it's just part of show business.

"Most of the people you see with perfect smiles in Hollywood have porcelain veneers," he said. "It's almost mandatory for people who take a lot of pictures."

2008 Deaths

Odetta Holmes
"The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement" was a singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter and activist.
December 31 1930 - December 2 2008.

Ray Tamarra , Getty

Bernie Mac
Comedian, Actor
Oct. 5, 1957 - Aug. 9, 2008.

Isaac Hayes
Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and actor.
August 20, 1942 - August 10, 2008

Reuters

Miriam Makeba, "Mama Africa"
South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist.
March 4, 1932 - November 10, 2008.

Reuters

Jennifer Hudson's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, brother, Jason, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, were killed in 2008.

Shakir Stewart
The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z's departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. He was 34 years old.

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George Carlin
Stand-up comedian, actor and author.
May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008

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Madelyn Dunham
Barack Obama's grandmother
October 26, 1922 - Nov 3, 2008.

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Levi Stubbs
Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving" died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

Corbis

Dee Dee Warwick
Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

Corbis

Compared to traditional braces, which sometimes need to be worn for years, porcelain veneers are fast and result in a more perfect, whiter set of teeth. A small amount of enamel is shaved off of each tooth, and thin porcelain veneers, which have a tooth-like appearance and resist staining, are bonded to the front of the teeth. The process is usually done in two visits, said Dr. Gause.

The procedure has proven to be irresistible for certain stars who weren't blessed with a perfect grill. Even rappers like 50 Cent, Ludacris, and Nelly have gone the veneer route to fix their dental imperfections. Unfortunately, the cost of veneers can be prohibitive if you aren't, say, a platinum-selling recording artist.

"Celebrities have more money to play with," Dr. Gause said, "and veneers can be pretty expensive."

They run from about $10,000 to $40,000, and they aren't exactly something the average person can easily afford, although financing is an option. If spending 40Gs, even in monthly installments, to perfect your grill seems preposterous, there are other choices, like traditional braces or Invisalign -- invisable, removable braces worn by Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, and Katherine Heigl.

But nothing beats the instant thrill of going from a having a crooked set of teeth to a perfect smile overnight.

"For people whose teeth are constantly making them feel self-conscious," said Dr. Gause, "veneers are life-changing."

For More Information:
Porcelain Veneers
Invisalign
Celebrity Grills: Before and After

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