When you picture someone wearing braces, you may immediately imagine a teenager.
Hollywood tells a different story.
Actors, musicians, and other public figures have undergone orthodontic treatment well into their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 60s.
Some wanted to straighten teeth they had never treated when they were younger. Others experienced shifting after previous orthodontic treatment. A few simply decided that adulthood was finally the right time to improve their smiles.
Adult orthodontics is more common than many people realize. The American Association of Orthodontists reports that roughly one in three orthodontic patients today is an adult, and healthy teeth can generally be moved at virtually any age.
Here are 10 celebrities who publicly wore braces as adults and what their smile transformations can teach us about orthodontic treatment.
A Note About Celebrity Dental Work
It is easy to look at an old photograph and assume that someone had veneers, braces, implants, whitening, or another cosmetic procedure.
That does not make the assumption accurate.
Dental treatment is private medical information, and many online celebrity smile articles repeat speculation as fact.
For this list, we focused on celebrities whose adult orthodontic treatment was publicly discussed, photographed, or documented by established publications.
The exact treatment plan, dental diagnosis, and long-term results for each person are not necessarily public.
1. Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani made braces part of her signature look at the height of No Doubt’s popularity.
She got traditional braces around age 30 and has spoken openly about wanting braces for years before she was able to get them.
In a Vogue retrospective, Stefani remembered getting braces after becoming successful and finally being able to pay for something she had always wanted. She even recalled the challenge of performing immediately after getting them because her lips were still getting used to the brackets.
Her story is a good reminder that orthodontic treatment does not have to happen during childhood.
For some adults, the opportunity simply comes later.
2. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise may be one of the most famous examples of adult braces.
In 2002, shortly before turning 40, Cruise began wearing clear braces to improve his bite alignment.
His spokesperson publicly confirmed the treatment at the time, and Cruise continued making high-profile appearances while wearing them.
For adults concerned about appearance, Cruise’s treatment also illustrates that orthodontic appliances do not always have to look like traditional metal braces.
Brackets can be made from tooth-colored materials that make them less noticeable.
3. Faith Hill
Faith Hill attracted plenty of attention when she appeared on the Grammy Awards red carpet wearing braces at age 45.
It was not her first experience with orthodontics.
Hill explained that she had braces when she was younger but failed to consistently wear her retainer afterward. Her teeth eventually shifted enough that she underwent orthodontic treatment again as an adult.
Her experience contains one of the biggest lessons in this entire list:
Wear your retainer.
Teeth can continue moving throughout life, even after successful orthodontic treatment.
Retainers help maintain the corrected position of the teeth after braces or aligners are finished.
4. Faye Dunaway
Oscar-winning actress Faye Dunaway proved that braces have no expiration date.
Dunaway began wearing braces around age 61.
The treatment was publicly visible during interviews and appearances in 2002, and she joked at the time that Tom Cruise was also wearing braces, putting her “right in style.”
Her story is particularly interesting for adults who assume orthodontic treatment is only worthwhile before a certain age.
Age alone generally does not disqualify someone from orthodontics.
What matters more is the health of the teeth, gums, supporting bone, and overall bite.
5. Danny Glover
Actor Danny Glover also underwent orthodontic treatment later in life.
Glover was photographed wearing braces around age 59 during public appearances in 2006.
It is another example of why the phrase “too old for braces” is becoming outdated.
Adults may seek orthodontic treatment for cosmetic reasons, but straightening teeth can also improve how the teeth fit together and make certain areas easier to keep clean.
Orthodontic treatment is therefore not necessarily just about creating a more symmetrical smile.
6. Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage joined the adult-braces club in his late 30s.
The actor was photographed wearing braces on his lower teeth in 2003 at age 39.
Not every orthodontic case requires identical treatment on every tooth.
The location of brackets, amount of tooth movement, length of treatment, and whether one or both arches need treatment depend on the individual’s bite and alignment.
That is why an orthodontic evaluation is necessary before deciding what type of treatment makes sense.
7. FKA twigs
Singer and performer FKA twigs showed off adult braces publicly in 2022.
She posted about her treatment while specifically explaining that she was not trying to eliminate the tooth gap that had become part of her recognizable appearance.
That makes her story different from many stereotypical “smile makeover” narratives.
Orthodontic treatment does not have to mean turning every smile into the same perfectly uniform arrangement.
Patients can discuss which features they want to change and which characteristics they would rather preserve.
A successful smile should still look like yours.
8. Estelle
British singer Estelle wore braces while her music career was taking off in 2008.
The singer rejected rumors that her record label had pressured her into changing her teeth. She explained that she had wanted braces since her early 20s and decided to finally complete the treatment before turning 30.
Estelle’s experience highlights an important point about cosmetic treatment:
The decision should belong to the patient.
Straightening your teeth should be based on your own health, comfort, goals, and preferences rather than pressure to imitate someone else’s smile.
9. Fantasia Barrino
Singer and actress Fantasia Barrino also wore braces after becoming famous.
The American Idol winner began adult orthodontic treatment around 2008, several years after winning the television competition.
Going through orthodontic treatment while constantly appearing on television, performing, and attending events shows how normal adult braces can be.
For patients who would rather have a more discreet treatment option, today’s choices may also include ceramic braces or clear aligners depending on the case.
10. Alyssa Milano
Actress Alyssa Milano reportedly underwent orthodontic treatment with ceramic braces in 2005 while in her early 30s.
Ceramic brackets are designed to blend more closely with the natural color of the teeth, making them less noticeable than traditional metal brackets.
Discreet options can be appealing for adults who regularly speak with customers, work on camera, attend professional events, or simply do not want highly visible orthodontic appliances.
Clear aligners provide another option for appropriate patients.
Why Do Adults Get Braces?
There is no single reason.
Some adults never had orthodontic treatment when they were younger.
Others had braces as children but experienced tooth movement later in life.
Some simply become more interested in improving their smiles as adults.
Orthodontic treatment can address problems such as:
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Teeth that have shifted after previous orthodontic treatment
Improving alignment can have cosmetic benefits, but orthodontics may also improve function.
Misaligned teeth and bite problems can contribute to uneven tooth wear, difficulty cleaning certain areas, and problems with how the teeth meet when chewing.
The American Dental Association notes that healthy teeth can undergo orthodontic treatment at any age.
Am I Too Old for Braces?
For most adults, age itself is not the deciding factor.
Before beginning orthodontic treatment, your dental provider needs to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums.
Untreated cavities, significant periodontal disease, or certain other dental conditions may need attention before teeth are moved.
Adults can also have previous dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, implants, or missing teeth that must be considered when planning treatment.
That is one reason orthodontic treatment should begin with a professional dental evaluation rather than an online impression kit.
The ADA discourages do-it-yourself and unsupervised direct-to-consumer orthodontic treatment because proper evaluation, imaging, and professional monitoring help reduce the risk of complications.
Braces vs. Clear Aligners for Adults
Traditional braces use brackets attached to the teeth and wires that gradually apply controlled pressure.
Modern braces may use metal brackets or more subtle tooth-colored materials.
Clear aligners take a different approach.
Instead of fixed brackets and wires, patients wear a series of removable trays designed to gradually move the teeth.
Clear aligners can be especially appealing to adults because they are:
- Removable
- Difficult to notice
- Taken out while eating
- Easier to brush and floss around than fixed brackets
- Custom-designed for each patient’s treatment plan
However, aligners are not automatically the best treatment for everyone.
Certain bite or alignment problems may respond better to traditional orthodontics or require a different approach.
The right option depends on the complexity of the case, patient goals, oral health, and how consistently the patient can follow treatment instructions.
Why Retainers Matter After Orthodontic Treatment
Faith Hill’s story demonstrates something dentists and orthodontists repeatedly tell patients:
Finishing braces does not mean your teeth will stay perfectly still forever.
Teeth naturally change position throughout life.
After orthodontic treatment, there is also a tendency for teeth to move toward their previous positions.
A retainer helps hold the teeth in their new alignment while the surrounding tissues adapt and continues helping prevent unwanted movement afterward.
Depending on your situation, you may be given a removable retainer, fixed retainer, or combination of both.
Follow the wearing schedule recommended by your provider.
If an old retainer suddenly feels extremely tight, no longer fits completely, or causes significant pain, do not force it onto your teeth. Contact your dental or orthodontic provider for an evaluation.
Considering Invisalign in Woodstock, VA?
Celebrity smile transformations may be interesting, but orthodontic treatment should never be about copying someone else’s teeth.
Your bite, tooth position, gum health, facial proportions, and treatment goals are unique.
At Tolley Dental, patients in Woodstock can explore Invisalign Clear Aligners as a discreet alternative to traditional braces.
Invisalign uses a customized series of clear removable aligners to gradually reposition teeth. Tolley Dental’s Woodstock office offers Invisalign for appropriate patients with alignment concerns.
An evaluation can help determine whether clear aligners are appropriate for your smile or whether another approach would better address your needs.
And just like Gwen Stefani, Tom Cruise, Faith Hill, Faye Dunaway, and the other celebrities on this list demonstrated, adulthood does not mean you missed your opportunity to straighten your teeth.
The best time to explore treatment is when it makes sense for you.
Visit our Contact Us page or call Tolley Dental at (540) 459-2173 to schedule an appointment at our Woodstock office and learn more about your options for a straighter, more confident smile.