Leo Martínez
The 1960s saw the rise of the Hollywood smile, with actors and actresses going to great lengths to achieve the perfect set of teeth. While it is unclear if TV stars painted their teeth in the 60s, we do know that cosmetic dentistry was already a common practice in Hollywood. The quest for the perfect smile drove many young actors to undergo extensive dental procedures, including teeth extraction and dentures, to enhance their appearance and maintain their icon status. Today, celebrities continue to seek cosmetic dentistry to straighten, fix, and brighten their teeth, using procedures such as professional whitening treatments, veneers, and crowns.
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What You'll Learn
Did TV stars paint their teeth?
It is well known that A-list celebrities frequently turn to cosmetic dentistry to straighten, fix and brighten their teeth to achieve the perfect smiles we are used to seeing. During the early days of Hollywood, many stars went to extreme lengths to maintain their icon status. Some of the stars were hiding painful secrets after undergoing dental treatments that led to chronic problems. For example, by the time he was 32 years old, William Clark Gable, the pin-up actor and star of Gone with the Wind, had almost a full set of dentures due to gum problems and pyorrhoea in his youth.
The all-powerful studios of Hollywood were uncompromising in their quest for the perfect star. Many young actors and actresses were groomed, enhanced and tweaked to fit the studio executive's idea of beauty. Some stars were expected to go to extreme lengths, with Marlene Dietrich believed to have had several molars removed to enhance her looks. Removing the back teeth can accentuate the hollows of the cheeks and create a slimmer face.
In the early days of black-and-white films, teeth showed up grey on screen. To correct this, actors were often required by their studio contracts to have full sets of gleaming new dentures made for them. In the 1950s, the use of Technicolor film also made teeth appear whiter.
Today, cosmetic dentists use one of three different procedures to achieve celebrity-level whiteness: professional whitening treatments, veneers, or crowns. Veneers are thin sheets of resin or porcelain that can be used to reshape teeth, make crooked teeth look straight, or make naturally off-white teeth look white. Dental crowns, on the other hand, are like tiny caps for the teeth, covering the entire surface above the gum line.
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1960s dental technology
The 1960s saw significant advancements in dental technology, building on the early-20th-century efforts to enhance the status of dentistry. One of the notable developments during this decade was the introduction of dental implants. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, a Swedish orthopaedic surgeon, conducted research on bone healing and regeneration in the 1950s. He observed that bone grew so close to titanium that it effectively adhered to the metal. This led to the placement of his first titanium dental implant into a human volunteer in 1965. Additionally, ceramic implants made from alumina were introduced between the 1960s and 1970s, although they were later withdrawn from the market in the early 1990s.
The 1960s also witnessed improvements in dental equipment and procedures. Dentists started using sterile disposable needles, a practice that originated in the military during WWII and transitioned to dentistry in 1959. The autoclave, a method of cold sterilization, was also adopted to sanitize dental instruments. High-speed drills with attached water coolants became common, with newer models being belt-driven or air-driven. The removal of portable suction units from treatment rooms created space for new equipment, such as motorized dental chairs.
The fully reclining dental chair, introduced in 1958, revolutionized dentistry by enabling sit-down, four-handed dentistry. This change reduced fatigue for dentists and, coupled with the addition of dental assistants, enhanced treatment efficiency. By the 1960s, dentistry had become increasingly focused on the appearance of teeth and their correlation with socioeconomic status. The "Hollywood smile" emerged, and actors were often required to wear full sets of dentures to conceal grey teeth that were noticeable in early black-and-white films.
While there were advancements in dental technology during the 1960s, some popular media from that era, such as the character Austin Powers in the Michael Myers spoofs of Bond films, portrayed characters with less-than-perfect teeth. This reflects a mix of dental aesthetics and realities during that time. Overall, the 1960s laid the groundwork for many techniques and equipment commonly found in dental offices today, contributing to the ongoing evolution of dental care.
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Cosmetic dentistry
Technicolor film in the 1950s also heightened the appearance of white teeth, with the over-saturation making teeth look even whiter. Actors in the 1950s film "Singing in the Rain" have notably white teeth, which has sparked questions about how they achieved this. Some actors in the early 20th century had full sets of dentures made, as teeth could appear grey in early black-and-white films.
By the 1960s, cosmetic dentistry was well-established in Hollywood, with some stars having teeth removed to enhance their looks. Marlene Dietrich, for example, had several molars removed to accentuate her cheeks and create a slimmer face. Joan Crawford underwent a similar procedure, which led to dental issues later in life.
Today, cosmetic dentistry remains popular among celebrities, with many turning to teeth whitening, veneers, or crowns to achieve their megawatt smiles. These procedures can straighten, fix, and brighten teeth, creating the much-desired "Hollywood smile".
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Dentures and caps
In the early 20th century, dentistry was not held in high regard. However, dentists succeeded in promoting the idea that the appearance of one's teeth was directly linked to their socioeconomic status. This correlation was further emphasised by the invention of the Hollywood smile, which saw actors contractually obliged to wear full sets of dentures to counteract the grey appearance of teeth in early black-and-white films.
The quest for the perfect smile led to Hollywood studios manipulating the appearance of young actors and actresses, including the removal of several molars to enhance their looks. For instance, Marlene Dietrich and Joan Crawford underwent procedures to remove back teeth, which accentuated their cheeks and created a slimmer facial appearance.
While it is unclear if TV stars in the 1960s painted their teeth, it is known that they went to great lengths to achieve the perfect smile. One example is Austin Powers, whose groovy 1960s character sports a notable set of British teeth. The specific dental procedures used by celebrities to achieve their desired smiles include professional whitening treatments, veneers, and crowns.
Veneers, thin sheets of resin or porcelain, are applied to reshape teeth, straighten crooked teeth, and create a whiter appearance. However, they are prone to staining and require careful dietary considerations. Crowns, on the other hand, are like tiny caps that cover the entire surface of the tooth above the gum line. Made of porcelain, crowns appear as very white and shiny teeth, and are stronger and less prone to staining than veneers.
The process of creating these cosmetic enhancements involves taking impressions and measurements of the actor's mouth for 3D models, casting, sculpting, shaping, and painting the fake teeth and gums, and then making final adjustments to ensure a correct fit. This meticulous work is undertaken by dental technicians and prosthetics specialists to ensure the fake teeth appear natural on screen.
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Veneers and crowns
While there is no direct evidence that TV stars painted their teeth in the 1960s, it is well-known that the Hollywood smile has been a significant aspect of the industry, with actors even being required by their studio contracts to have full sets of new dentures. The quest for the perfect star led to young actors and actresses undergoing various dental procedures to fit the executive's idea of beauty.
Today, celebrities frequently turn to cosmetic dentistry to achieve their megawatt smiles. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a patient's smile by targeting the size, shape, alignment, and whiteness of their teeth. One of the three most common procedures used to attain celebrity-level whiteness is the use of veneers and crowns.
Veneers are thin sheets of resin or porcelain that cover the teeth. They can be used to reshape teeth, make crooked teeth look straight, and make off-white teeth look white. They produce excellent cosmetic results, but they are prone to staining, and patients must be cautious about what they eat and drink.
Dental crowns, on the other hand, are like tiny caps for the teeth, covering the entire surface above the gum line. Porcelain crowns resemble very white, shiny teeth and are stronger than veneers. They are often recommended for patients with worn or cracked teeth or those who grind their teeth.
Creating these perfect smiles involves meticulous work by dental technicians and prosthetics specialists. They conceptualize the design, take impressions and measurements for 3D models, cast, sculpt, shape, and paint the fake teeth and gums, and then make final adjustments to ensure a correct fit.
While the specific practices of TV stars in the 1960s regarding teeth painting may not be common knowledge, it is evident that the pursuit of the perfect smile has driven various dental enhancements, with veneers and crowns being prominent procedures in modern times.
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