The surprise success of ‘The White Lotus’ actress with imperfect teeth

There was a time when dental veneers were a rare and almost secret beauty tool, but in recent years, they’ve become a widespread symbol of status. By 2023, The Washington Post was already warning that everyone seemed to have the same smile, as both celebrities and everyday people opted for artificial perfection in their teeth. The so-called Hollywood smile became so ubiquitous that the film Don’t Look Up, with teeth designed by Chris Lyon, mocked the unnaturally white, false teeth that dominate U.S. television — teeth that, as casting director Marta Noguera explains, had become “the new Botox.”

One person who hasn’t fallen victim to this trend of dental perfection is Aimee Lou Wood. In the third season of The White Lotus, she has become one of the show’s most beloved actresses, largely due to her distinctive teeth, which earned her the nickname “buck teeth” during school. In an interview with On Demand Entertainment, Wood shared that she had always believed her teeth “would prevent her from convincingly portraying an American.”

Noguera says that she finds a smile as non-normative as the British actress’s to be extremely interesting, bringing a lot of personality to the character. “However, production doesn’t ask us to focus on specific characteristics. It’s a job we do artistically in casting,” she explains. “Although I’ve never been asked to consider veneers or whitened smiles, since these can be adjusted by the hair and makeup department, they do need to be taken into account — especially when working on period projects, since very pronounced Botox or overly whitened smiles can make characters seem unrealistic for the historical context they represent.”

Euphoria actress Chloe Cherry was one of the few in the entertainment industry who had resisted the aesthetic pressure by maintaining her natural dental look, but recently, she gave in... with unexpected results. “Spending $200,000 on veneers just for everyone to say they look bad,” she says in a video where she humorously shows off her new smile. “My favorite Spirit horse,” one user comments. “I hope you can take them off because the result is terrifying,” says another.

Dr. Bill Dorfman, a renowned dentist who has worked with celebrities like Hugh Jackman, Eva Longoria, and Anne Hathaway, explained to The Hollywood Reporter that his goal is to ensure his clients’ veneers look natural. “The worst thing in the world for me is if someone walks up to you and says, ‘Oh my God, your veneers look great.’ I don’t want people to know you have them,” he says. Dorfman, who adds texture to teeth by applying thin layers of porcelain, advocates for a gradual gum line and translucency in the biting edge of his custom veneers.

New York dentist Lana Rozenberg, who is responsible for the smiles of Scarlett Johansson and Justin Theroux, commented in a 2019 interview with the same publication that as cosmetic dentistry gained popularity, wearing veneers became a badge of honor “like carrying a designer bag.” “But now,” she said, “It’s like plastic surgery — people don’t want to look as if they’ve had anything done.”

Dr. Belkys Martínez, a prosthodontist and aesthetic dentist at Smile’s Art Dental Clinic, tells EL PAÍS that the current trend is shifting away from “catalog” smiles. “Patients are looking for subtle improvements that beautify without making it look like they’ve had dental treatment. Techniques like ultra-thin porcelain veneers or personalized whitening allow us to enhance the smile without losing its natural appearance. Ideally, the smile should look radiant, but without others being able to tell exactly what has been done,” she explains.

“There is a growing awareness of individuality in beauty, and this is also reflected in cosmetic dentistry. The perfect smile isn’t just one, but one that fits the individual and highlights their best features without obscuring their essence. We’re seeing a shift where health and authenticity are the priority, and that’s a very positive thing,” she adds.

A study by the U.S. market analytics firm Grand View Research in 2023 revealed that the dental industry generated $2.3 billion worldwide the previous year, with projections suggesting its value would exceed $7.5 billion by the end of 2024. This growth highlights that smiles are no longer perfected solely with veneers — whitening treatments and invisible orthodontics have also surged in popularity, with even low-cost alternatives now available, as Dr. Eugenia Cervantes points out.

“People are looking for something quick and affordable, which is the message many brands push on social media and television: ‘Straighten your teeth in a few months.’ This isn’t feasible in all cases. A slightly crooked tooth isn’t the same as a severe overbite that prevents the patient from closing their mouth completely; this can’t be fixed with a cell phone app alone and without a visit to the clinic. Orthodontics can be multidisciplinary, combining surgical, periodontal, and cosmetic treatments. It’s not just about straightening teeth; the goal is to plan for a healthy and functional long-term result,” she explains.

Irene Esteve, a dentist and expert in dentofacial aesthetics, explains that more and more people are concerned about their dental appearance. “There are patients who want more natural colors and slight irregularities, such as diastemas, which are the space between two teeth. I have cases of smile design where we preserve these irregularities, but we also see patients with size differences between the back incisors and the lateral ones, or very sharp canines. We design smiles that are like a fingerprint: absolutely personalized. Sometimes the patients themselves ask us to preserve those small details that make them unique, and other times, we advise them to keep them,” she explains.

Clara Freitas, head of the Dra. Fleitas Dental Clinic, also believes that nowadays, there is a trend toward seeking more subtle dental aesthetic improvements, with the once-popular Hollywood smile falling increasingly out of favor. “People are now looking for more natural tooth colors and shapes than they did 30 years ago. As a result, the demand for cosmetic orthodontic treatments with aligners has grown significantly, as these offer highly aesthetic, natural results — provided we don’t want to alter the shape, size, or color of the teeth — and the results are long-lasting,” she explains.

Aimee Lou Wood confessed to Stylist that despite always feeling very confident when going to casting calls for theater roles, when the auditions were for television, she was surprised when she got the call. “I sometimes thought, ‘Oh, a Channel 4 thing, I might have a chance on there.’ Then Sex Education came along and I was like, ‘Well, what have I seen on Netflix? Everyone has perfect Hollywood teeth,’" she said.

After landing a role in The White Lotus, Wood said she has been inundated with support. “I’m getting hundreds of messages from people going, ‘Oh my god, you’ve got teeth like mine. Now I go to school and people think I’m cool because I look like Aimee.' Instead of it being ‘Bugs Bunny,’” she told Stylist.

In its new season, The White Lotus has managed to deliver a sharp satire of the super-rich, following the motto “eat the rich,” while also embracing the idea that you can enjoy the opulent life of the 1% with an imperfect smile.

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