Although smile makeovers are getting more attention now than ever, such transformations are not new. Some of the most well-known smile transformations were performed in the 1980’s and 1990’s for pop icon David Bowie.

Although Bowie’s teeth were crooked, misshaped, and discolored, fans accepted his less-than-perfect smile as part of the rock star package as he rose to stardom during the 1970’s, following the releases of David Bowie (1969), The Man Who Sold the World (1970), Hunky Dory (1971), and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972).

However, to update his image for 1983’s album Let’s Dance, Bowie achieved a noticeably brighter, whiter smile with esthetic dental procedures. The transformation enhanced Bowie’s superstar image and brought cosmetic dentistry into the awareness of popular culture.

After his initial smile enhancement, Bowie’s smile deteriorated due to his excessive smoking. Then, when he married supermodel Iman in 1992, Bowie’s image became less avant-garde and more glamorous, and he needed a look that matched. Bowie underwent more esthetic procedures to give him the straight, white smile he has today.

How appropriate that this pop legend, who continually recreates his image as a form of creative expression, was one of the first celebrities to have a smile makeover in the public eye. Who better to demonstrate the transformative results possible with cosmetic dentistry?