Ben Affleck Teeth — Before & After Smile Transformation
Important Medical Information
The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional dental advice. Always consult with a qualified cosmetic dentist before making treatment decisions. Individual results may vary based on your specific dental condition and chosen treatment plan.
Ben Affleck's smile has undergone a remarkable evolution from his early days as a fresh-faced actor to his status as an A-list Hollywood star. Over the course of his career, Affleck transitioned from a natural, slightly imperfect set of teeth to a polished 'Hollywood' smile that is often cited as a prime example of a successful celebrity dental makeover.
First Major Work
Completed over 8-12 months
Likely Procedures
Full mouth reconstruction, Porcelain veneers
Notable Features
Complete Smile Makeover
U.S. Cost to Emulate
$20,000 - $35,000
Timeline: Ben Affleck's Teeth, Before & After
Early Career: Natural Teeth and a 'Everyman' Smile (1990s)
In the early and mid-1990s, Ben Affleck's smile was completely natural – endearing but showing minor imperfections. Photographs and film appearances from this era (e.g. Good Will Hunting in 1997) reveal that his teeth were slightly uneven, moderately spaced, and not Hollywood-white. His two front teeth (central incisors) were not especially prominent, contributing to what Michael Bay later referred to as Affleck's 'baby teeth' look. The teeth appeared a typical off-white shade, and a bit of a 'gummy' smile was visible due to their smaller size and his gum line.
The Armageddon Makeover: A Hollywood Smile is Born (1997–1998)
The late 1990s marked a turning point for Ben Affleck's dental appearance. In 1997, fresh off an Oscar win for Good Will Hunting, Affleck was on the cusp of leading-man status. It was around this time that he underwent a dramatic smile transformation in preparation for bigger roles. By Affleck's own recollection, when he was cast in Michael Bay's 1998 blockbuster Armageddon, the film's director and producers bluntly insisted on a cosmetic dental overhaul to fit the 'hero' image. 'They made me fix my teeth and work out and be sexy,' Affleck later joked, recalling the experience of being prepped for the role.
Early 2000s: Maintaining the Movie-Star Smile
After the high-profile dental overhaul in 1998, Ben Affleck entered the 2000s with a markedly improved smile – one that he has diligently maintained ever since. In films like Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Sum of All Fears (2002), Affleck's teeth remained impeccably straight and camera-ready, underscoring that the cosmetic work had held up well. By this time, his gleaming smile had become part of his trademark look. Off-screen, entertainment media took note of the change: what had once been a slightly crooked, 'everyman' smile was now a set of teeth 'elevated to leading-man standards.'
Surprises in the 2010s: Gold Crowns and Continued Refinement
By the 2010s, Ben Affleck's smile was as strong as ever, but that doesn't mean his dental journey was over. In fact, one of the more surprising twists came in 2013 when eagle-eyed fans and paparazzi photos revealed that Affleck had two gold-capped teeth in his mouth. During a lunch outing where Affleck was laughing broadly (reportedly while dining with director David Fincher), photographers captured a glimpse of gold on his upper and lower jaws. Entertainment outlets noted that the actor had a gold crown on an upper molar and another on a lower premolar – teeth that are not usually visible in his smile but can be seen at certain angles.
Today's Smile: 2020s and Beyond
Entering the 2020s (and with Affleck now in his 50s), his smile remains a testament to successful cosmetic dentistry and maintenance. Side-by-side comparisons of Affleck in the 1990s versus today are almost unbelievable – he arguably has a more photogenic smile now than he did in his twenties. The veneers and dental work he invested in have aged well, giving him a 'tenaciously young' look according to recent commentary. At public appearances, whether on the red carpet or even casually with his wife Jennifer Lopez, Affleck's teeth present as straight, proportionate, and clean.
Procedures & Evidence (What changed and how)
Expert Analysis
Dr. Nilgün Çetinkaya
Cosmetic Dentist
Dr. Çetinkaya noted that this 'accelerated route' – straightening and perfecting via veneers instead of orthodontics – is common among actors who need fast results. Affleck's veneers set the foundation for the Hollywood smile we see today. A combination of veneers/crowns for aesthetics, whitening for color, gum contouring for smile line, plus ongoing maintenance took Affleck's teeth 'from ordinary to outstanding' and keeps them camera-ready decades later.
Michael Bay
Film Director
Bay himself, in the DVD commentary for Armageddon, revealed that the production spent about $20,000 on Affleck's dental work, because he 'had these baby teeth' that didn't fit the heroic look. Over about a week of intensive dental sessions, Affleck received a full set of porcelain veneers (and possibly some crowns), lengthening and enlarging his teeth for a more commanding smile.
Kate Beckinsale
Co-star
Multiple sources – including Affleck's co-star Kate Beckinsale – have noted that Michael Bay felt Affleck's smile wasn't yet that of a leading man. Beckinsale remembered Affleck telling her, 'They made me get new teeth,' when describing his Armageddon preparation.
Procedures Breakdown
Porcelain Veneers (Late 1990s)
The cornerstone of Affleck's new smile was a full set of porcelain veneers on his upper teeth (and likely some lower teeth as well). Veneers are thin custom-crafted shells that cover the front surface of teeth, and in Affleck's case they instantly corrected multiple issues: they made his relatively small teeth longer and larger, hid any slight gaps or crooked edges by creating a new aligned facade, and gave a uniform white shade to his smile. To apply veneers, a cosmetic dentist typically has to shave down a bit of the natural enamel. Affleck's transformation in 1998 clearly involved this process – his dentist essentially capped or covered his imperfect teeth with new, larger, whiter ones.
Dental Crowns
In some cases, rather than veneers, a tooth might have been fully capped with a dental crown. Crowns cover the entire tooth (not just the front) and are used if a tooth is weak, damaged, or needs structural support. It's not publicly confirmed which of Affleck's teeth have crowns, but it's likely a few do – particularly the teeth that received root canals or had large fillings. Notably, as mentioned, Affleck had gold crowns on at least two back teeth (one upper molar, one lower premolar) spotted in 2013. Those gold crowns were likely placed for durability after treating decay or cracks in those teeth.
Teeth Whitening
A bright smile isn't just about porcelain work – whitening played a role as well. Before getting veneers, Affleck's natural teeth would have undergone professional bleaching so that the baseline color was lighter (veneers are often color-matched to a patient's whitened natural tooth shade). Moreover, over the years, even porcelain can pick up minor stains and the untouched teeth (like some back teeth or bottom teeth edges) can dull, so Affleck likely has periodic whitening treatments.
Gum Contouring (Gingivoplasty)
One aspect of Affleck's original 'baby teeth' look was that his teeth appeared short, showing more gum when he smiled. To fix a gummy smile and to make teeth look longer, cosmetic dentists often perform gum contouring (also known as crown lengthening). This procedure involves trimming and reshaping the gum tissue (and sometimes a bit of bone) above the front teeth. Affleck has never publicly stated he had this done, but experts strongly suspect it was part of his 1998 makeover.
Cost & How to Get the Look
Cost Estimate
$20,000 - $35,000
A transformation like this can cost $20,000 - $35,000 in the U.S.
Cost Breakdown
Financing Options
Many patients use CareCredit or similar financing to spread the cost over time.
Example: $20,000 - $35,000 over 24 months = ~$1,200/month
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Image Credits
Research Sources
This analysis is based on comprehensive research from entertainment publications, dental professional commentary, and public interviews. All dental procedure assertions are grounded in observable changes and expert analysis.
- • Entertainment publications and media reports
- • Professional dental analysis and commentary
- • Public interviews and red carpet appearances
- • Before and after photo analysis
Image Credits
All images are used for editorial purposes. Before and after photos are sourced from public appearances and media coverage. Images are used under fair use for educational and informational purposes.
Timeline
Completed over 8-12 months
Dentist
Leading Hollywood cosmetic dentist
