
Sometimes it seems that appearances count for everything—especially in Hollywood. But just recently, Lonnie Chaviz, the 10-year-old actor who plays young Randall on the hit TV show This Is Us, delivered a powerful message about accepting differences in body image. And the whole issue was triggered by negative social media comments about his smile.
Lonnie has a noticeable diastema—that is, a gap between his two front teeth; this condition is commonly seen in children, but is less common in adults. There are plenty of celebrities who aren’t bothered by the excess space between their front teeth, such as Michael Strahan, Lauren Hutton and Vanessa Paradis. However, there are also many people who choose to close the gap for cosmetic or functional reasons.
Unfortunately, Lonnie had been on the receiving end of unkind comments about the appearance of his smile. But instead of getting angry, the young actor posted a thoughtful reply via Instagram video, in which he said: “I could get my gap fixed. Braces can fix this, but like, can you fix your heart, though?”
Lonnie is raising an important point: Making fun of how someone looks shows a terrible lack of compassion. Besides, each person’s smile is uniquely their own, and getting it “fixed” is a matter of personal choice. It’s true that in most circumstances, if the gap between the front teeth doesn’t shrink as you age and you decide you want to close it, orthodontic appliances like braces can do the job. Sometimes, a too-big gap can make it more difficult to eat and to pronounce some words. In other situations, it’s simply a question of aesthetics—some like it; others would prefer to live without it.
There’s a flip side to this issue as well. When teeth need to be replaced, many people opt to have their smile restored just the way it was, rather than in some “ideal” manner. That could mean that their dentures are specially fabricated with a space between the front teeth, or the crowns of their dental implants are spaced farther apart than they normally would be. For these folks, the “imperfection” is so much a part of their unique identity that changing it just seems wrong.
So if you’re satisfied with the way your smile looks, all you need to do is keep up with daily brushing and flossing, and come in for regular checkups and cleanings to keep it healthy and bright. If you’re unsatisfied, ask us how we could help make it better. And if you need tooth replacement, be sure to talk to us about all of your options—teeth that are regular and “Hollywood white;” teeth that are natural-looking, with minor variations in color and spacing; and teeth that look just like the smile you’ve always had.
Because when it comes to your smile, we couldn’t agree more with what Lonnie Chaviz said at the end of his video: “Be who you want to be. Do what you want to do. Do you. Be you. Believe in yourself.”
If you have questions about cosmetic dentistry, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Beautiful Smiles by Design” and “The Magic of Orthodontics.”
Comments:
Dentist - Mundelein
452 N. Seymour Ave, Suite B
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 566-4060
Patient Education
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Tags
- celebrity smiles (74)
- cosmetic dentistry (10)
- common symptoms (1)
- snoring and sleep apnea (1)
- oral health (21)
- teeth whitening (5)
- oral hygiene (20)
- tmj (1)
- tmd (1)
- mouthguards (6)
- teeth grinding (3)
- orthodontic treatment (19)
- braces (15)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- oral sedation (2)
- dental hygiene (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- dental implants (15)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- loose teeth (1)
- gum disease (11)
- gum recession (3)
- periodontal disease (3)
- root canal (2)
- dental injury (9)
- dental emergency (3)
- dental implant (1)
- orthodontics (9)
- pediatric dentistry (3)
- oral cancer (5)
- retainers (3)
- dental care (1)
- diabetes (2)
- sealants (1)
- crown lengthening (1)
- dental exam (1)
- tooth decay (11)
- smile makeover (1)
- laser dentistry (2)
- oral surgery (3)
- dentures (2)
- clear aligners (2)
- fluoride (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- age one dental visit (1)
- cold sore (1)
- bad breath (1)
- snoring (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- mouthrinse (1)
- bonding (1)
- root resorption (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- crowns (3)
- tooth extraction (1)
- missing tooth (1)
- saliva (1)
- chipped tooth (2)
- nutrition (6)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- lump (1)
- thumb sucking (2)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- flossing (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- osteoporosis (1)
- veneers (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- medicine (1)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- tooth pain (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- retainer (2)
- GERD (2)
- pulp capping (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- root canal treatment (1)
- eating disorder (1)
- apicoectomy (1)
- extraction (1)
- pain management (1)
- tmj disorders (1)