You've seen the smiles. You've paused the telly, zoomed in on a red-carpet photo and thought: are those real? Often the answer is no, and plenty of famous people have told us so themselves. Some love their veneers. Some regret them. At least two have lost one to a snack.
The short answer: Robbie Williams, Rylan, Katie Price, Stacey Solomon, Cardi B, JoJo Siwa and Chrissy Teigen have all talked publicly about their veneers, or been caught on camera with one missing. Their stories cover cost, confidence, regret and replacements. The common thread is that veneers can look brilliant, but they're a big and usually permanent decision, and gentler options like composite bonding sometimes do the job instead. (For a celebrity who went down that route, see what Maura Higgins actually had done.)
First, what actually is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin shell, usually porcelain or composite (tooth-coloured resin), fixed to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or size.
Here's the bit the before-and-after photos leave out. For many veneers, especially porcelain ones, some natural enamel is filed away first so the shell sits flush. Enamel doesn't grow back. Once it's done, those teeth will need veneers, or something like them, for life. That's not a reason to panic. It's a reason to think it through properly first.
1. Robbie Williams: "Not like the yellow knobs"
Robbie showed off his new veneers on Watch What Happens Live in January 2025, joking they were "not like the yellow knobs that I used to have". He added that they were "so expensive and you pay for what you get".
My take: he's right about paying for what you get. The cheapest veneers can end up the most expensive if they need redoing.
2. Rylan: "Sometimes you just have to let go"
Rylan's bright white smile was one of the most talked-about in British telly after he got veneers in 2013. Eight years later he posted: "After 8 years. It hurts, so much, but sometimes you just have to let go. I've taken the decision to say goodbye… to my teeth... new smile imminent."
My take: veneers don't last forever. They can chip, stain round the edges, or simply start to look dated as a face changes. Replacing them is normal, and it's part of the real cost.
3. Katie Price: veneers redone abroad
In 2020, Katie shared a video from Turkey showing her natural teeth in the dentist's chair while she had her veneers redone. Fans had a lot to say about what was underneath.
My take: I'm not going to pile on anyone's teeth. But it's a useful reminder that under every set of veneers are real teeth that were filed down. They still need looking after, and every redo means more work on the same teeth.
4. Stacey Solomon: "Once you go down that road there is no going back"
Stacey has been the most open of the lot. Writing in 2018, she said her real teeth underneath were "like brown pegs", that her first set were "bulbous and whiter than white", and warned: "once you go down that road there is no going back".
My take: the whitest, biggest teeth aren't always the ones that suit a face. The best cosmetic dentistry is the kind nobody notices.
5. Cardi B: beaten by a bagel
In March 2024, Cardi B posted a video with a gap in her smile, asking why one of her veneers had come out while chewing on a bagel. She laughed it off, which, fair play.
My take: veneers are strong, but they're not bagel-proof, ice-proof or pen-lid-proof. If one comes off, keep it safe and get it seen by a dentist. Superglue is not the answer. Ever.
6. JoJo Siwa: "50 grand"
JoJo got her veneers in 2020 and later said they cost her 50 grand (in dollars). In a 2023 livestream she said: "they're a part of me and I'm not ashamed of it, I love my smile."
My take: love that. Nobody should feel ashamed of cosmetic treatment. But that price tag is a good reminder to ask what replacements will cost down the line, not just the first set.
7. Chrissy Teigen: the candy cane incident
Just before Christmas 2025, Chrissy knocked a veneer out while opening a candy cane for her kids. "I was trying to create magic," she said, "now I have no tooth."
My take: the most mum sentence ever spoken. And proof that it's usually everyday things, not dramatic ones, that catch veneers out. Opening packets with your teeth is a no from me, veneers or not.
So, are veneers worth it?
For some people, yes. For plenty of others, something gentler does the job with less or no drilling:
- whitening, if colour is the main issue
- composite bonding, to fix chips, small gaps or uneven edges
- teeth straightening, if the teeth are a good shape but crooked
The celebrities who seem happiest are the ones who went in with their eyes open about cost, upkeep and the fact that there's no going back. The questions worth asking before any veneer goes on:
- How much of my tooth will be removed?
- Is there a less invasive option?
- What's the full cost, including future replacements?
- Who do I contact if one comes off?
Stacey Solomon said it best. Once you go down that road, there's no going back. So make sure it's the road you actually want.
This article is general information based on what these celebrities have said or shared publicly. Whether a treatment is suitable for any individual can only be decided after an examination in person.
