How ‘wonky’ teeth became the latest  status symbol with It-Girls like Aimee Lou Wood and Georgia May Jagger  – as dentists say veneers are falling out of fashion

For decades people have spent thousands of pounds bleaching, drilling and filing their teeth down to achieve a perfectly pearly ‘Hollywood smile’.

But the It-Girls for today are being praised for their imperfect incisors despite admitting they were once plagued by childhood taunts for their ‘wonky’ chompers – as dentists reveal patients are moving away from costly veneers for more natural options.

From breakout star Aimee Lou Wood, set to play supermodel Pattie Boyd – whose beauty inspired hits such as Layla and Wonderful Tonight – to musical sensation Sabrina Carpenter, today’s sex symbols are proudly touting their gnashers.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Nicole Khalife, dentist and owner of Lux Smiles NYC, shared that wonky teeth are ‘officially in’, and she’s seeing it in her customers.

‘In my years as a dentist, I’ve seen plenty of trends come and go – from ultra-white veneers to the push for perfectly straight teeth. But lately, there’s been a really refreshing shift,’ she explained.

‘More people are rethinking what a “perfect smile” actually means. These days, patients are leaning into a more natural look – embracing little quirks, slight overlaps, and the kind of uniqueness that makes their smiles truly their own.’

In this day and age, Nicole added, people ‘don’t want cookie-cutter smiles’.  

‘They’re moving away from that super-polished, identical look and instead asking for something that feels more real,’ she continued.

‘I’ve had patients tell me, “I just want my smile to look like me – but a little better.” That mindset says a lot about how our idea of beauty is evolving. Small imperfections can make a smile feel genuine, approachable, and full of personality.

‘From a professional standpoint, I think this is a really positive change. Healthy, natural teeth are beautiful – and preserving that natural structure is always one of my top priorities.’

She said that while ‘veneers still have their place and can work wonders for certain patients’, they are ‘not always necessary’.

‘They involve removing some enamel, which is a permanent step, and more people are starting to realize they’d rather avoid that if possible,’ Nicole stated.

‘Patients are becoming more informed, and they’re looking for treatments that are conservative, long-lasting, and focused on overall health, not just aesthetics.

‘I think social media has helped shape this new attitude too. You’re seeing more public figures showing off natural, slightly imperfect smiles – and people love it.

‘It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t have to mean flawless symmetry. In fact, a smile with character often stands out more because it feels genuine.’

Elsewhere, Madelyne Salo, who owns Select Dental, has also noticed the change with her own patients.

‘Lately, more people are starting to appreciate their natural teeth, even if they are not perfectly straight,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘There is something charming and human about a smile that shows personality instead of perfection.

‘The “wonky teeth” trend reflects this shift toward authenticity. In many ways, it is a reminder that beauty is not about chasing a flawless look but embracing what makes us unique.

‘The Japanese idea of “yaeba” where slightly crooked teeth are seen as cute and youthful, really captures this mindset that imperfection can be its own kind of beauty.

‘Veneers are still a valuable option for many, especially when someone wants to fix chips or discoloration.

‘However, I have noticed that patients today are moving away from that ultra-white, identical Hollywood smile. They want results that look natural and feel like them. 

‘People are also more informed about the long-term maintenance that veneers require, and that has made many think twice before choosing something permanent.

‘This awareness has created a healthier balance between cosmetic enhancement and self-acceptance.’

Experts have credited the emerging A-listers of today for helping cement the new attitude towards teeth. 

‘For years, a perfectly straight, dazzlingly white smile was the ultimate status symbol. We saw it on Hollywood stars, on influencers, and even on our friends who had taken the plunge,’ Dr Jana Denzel, founder of Denstudio Dental Limited, shared.

‘That uniform, bright-white look, often achieved with a full set of veneers, became the standard of beauty we all felt we had to chase. But now, something is shifting.

‘Lately, I’ve noticed a quiet rebellion against this manufactured perfection. We’re seeing more people in the public eye, like the effortlessly cool Daisy Edgar-Jones, rocking their natural teeth with pride.

‘These smiles have character. They have little gaps, slight overlaps, and unique shapes that make them uniquely individual. The move away from “perfect” smiles seems to be part of a bigger conversation we’re having about authenticity.’

Aimee Lou Wood has been applauded by many around the world for showing off her teeth as she has reached new heights of fame with her fan-favourite role on The White Lotus earlier this year.

But in a recent interview with British GQ, Aimee explained that White Lotus creator Mike White had to ‘fight’ to cast her, which made her feel insecure.

She continued: ‘When someone (not a producer) told me Mike fought for me it was said in a nice way.

‘I just spiralled about it because of my own imposter syndrome. That was my point. Just really wanted to clear that up because HBO have been nothing but super supportive.

In the GQ article, Aimee dove into the insecurity, saying, ‘My little head goes: “HBO didn’t want me. And I know why HBO didn’t want me, it’s because I’m ugly.”‘

‘Mike had to say, “Please let me have the ugly girl!” That was the thing that was in my head,’ she continued.

Aimee has been praised online for leaving her buck teeth natural, instead of caving into the artificial beauty standards of Hollywood.

During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, the actress marvelled: ‘I can’t believe the impact my teeth are having. Americans can’t get over them.

‘Even the way White Lotus fans are talking about me and my teeth – that I don’t have veneers or Botox – it feels a bit rebellious.’

Many have also heaped praised on the natural smile of her White Lotus co-star Charlotte Le Bon.

The 38-year-old French-Canadian actress has been at the center of multiple articles and Reddit posts appreciating her unique teeth.

Aimee and Charlotte’s characters Chelsea and Chloe even addressed their chompers in their first meeting as the latter told the former: ‘I love your teeth!  You’re from England right?’

Elsewhere, Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri is another celebrity who has been lauded for their natural smile.

The 30-year-old star of The Bear often flashes her signature smile on the red carpet. However, in January 2024 she was candid about dreaming of being able to afford to maintain the teeth she has.

She told E! News’s Laverne Cox on the red carpet of the Primetime Emmy Awards of herself at the time: ‘She didn’t dream of nights like this. She sort of dreamed of just, like, dental insurance.

‘We’ve got dental, we’ve got eye [insurance], we’ve got ear. We can go to the dermatologist.’

Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter – revered for her incredible musical talent as well as her beauty – has also been praised for her natural chompers.

The 26-year-old Espresso hitmaker is said to have slight crowding, a rotated tooth, and pointed canines – and mamelons, which are the bumps on the edge of a tooth which help it erupt through the gum.

Meanwhile, actress Margaret Qualley has a slight gap between her two front teeth.  The 31-year-old actress wore prosthetics in critically-acclaimed film The Substance. 

Georgia May Jagger is also a member of the gap gang.

The model, 33, has not fixed the space between her two front teeth as her famous look has led to a successful modeling career.

And it’s not just the It-Girls – male stars like Jacob Elordi have been praised for their imperfectly charming smiles too. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Steven Davidowitz, founder of Luxury Dentistry NYC, remarked: ‘It’s been fascinating to watch how our idea of “perfect teeth” keeps changing.

‘The obsession with flawless, cookie-cutter smiles is losing its grip. People don’t want to look like they just stepped out of a cosmetic ad anymore. They want to look like themselves- quirks, character, and all.

‘I remember a patient who came in asking if she should “fix” a tiny overlap in her front teeth.

‘It wasn’t something most people would even notice, but she felt pressured because every influencer seemed to have the same bright, veneered smile. We talked about it, and she decided to keep her natural look.

A few weeks later she told me, “I actually get more compliments now because my smile feels more me.” That’s the kind of moment that tells you beauty standards are shifting.’