Why celebrities choose dental implants

Implants replace missing teeth with lifelike strength and stability. They don’t come out, they help protect facial shape, and they can anchor anything from a single crown to a full set of fixed teeth. The same benefits apply whether you’re on a red carpet—or just want to enjoy a steak without worry.

Source: Wilfred Wiki (Fandom), wilfred.fandom.com/wiki/Ed_Helms (accessed August 19, 2025)

Ed Helms (Actor)

Known for: The Hangover, The Office

Implant story: Actor Ed Helms (famous from The Hangover and The Office) has a legendary gap in his smile – and it’s not just Hollywood magic. Helms was born without an adult incisor, and he got a permanent implant to fill the spot when he was a teenager (source: people.com). For his role as the hapless dentist Stu in The Hangover, Helms actually removed his implant’s crown to appear missing a tooth on camera. “It is totally real,” Helms confirmed, explaining that “I have an implant. An adult tooth never came in and when I was 16, they did a permanent implant.” (source: people.com). With his dentist’s help, he temporarily went without the implant during filming for an authentic gap-toothed look – a trick that made his on-screen antics even more hilarious. Helms’ case shows implants replacing a congenitally missing tooth, giving him a normal smile in everyday life and a removable movie prop when comedy calls.

Takeaway for patients: An implant can seamlessly replace a congenitally missing tooth and look indistinguishable from the real thing.

Source: “Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler turns 75,” DW.com, March 26, 2023 (accessed August 19, 2025).

Steven Tyler (Musician)

Known for: Aerosmith frontman

Implant story: While on tour in Paraguay in 2011, Tyler fell in a hotel bathroom during a bout of food poisoning, breaking two teeth. Local dentists placed two dental implants immediately to replace the broken teeth, and he returned to the stage within a day (Source: cbsnews.com).

Takeaway for patients: Same-day implant protocols can quickly stabilise a smile after accidents.

Source: “Christie Brinkley,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, last updated July 21, 2025 (accessed August 19, 2025).

Christie Brinkley (Model)

Known for: Supermodel, presenter, entrepreneur

Implant story: In 1994 Brinkley survived a helicopter crash while heli-skiing, leaving her with cracked and missing teeth. She has said: “When I had my helicopter crash I cracked some teeth, so I had to get a couple dental implants; it was horrifying,” and later expressed being “grateful for the dental implant technology that feels and looks so natural.” (Source: latimes.com).

Takeaway for patients: Implants are often the gold standard after trauma, particularly for cracked or non-restorable teeth.

Source: “HOWIE MANDEL” judge bio, America’s Got Talent, NBC.com (accessed August 19, 2025).

Howie Mandel (Comedian & TV Host)

Known for: America’s Got Talent, Deal or No Deal

Implant story: Mandel has spoken candidly about having two dental implants, saying he can’t tell them from natural teeth.

Takeaway for patients: Well-integrated implants feel natural for chewing, smiling and speaking.

Source: “Legendary SI Swimsuit Model Kathy Ireland Celebrates 60th Birthday With an Adorable Throwback on IG,” SI.com, March 20, 2023 (accessed August 19, 2025).

Kathy Ireland (Model & Entrepreneur)

Known for: Sports Illustrated alumnus; founder & CEO, kathy ireland® Worldwide

Implant story: After a household accident left her with broken teeth, Ireland reported needing numerous veneers and a dental implant to replace a lost tooth—describing the experience as “pretty easy”.

Takeaway for patients: Implants often sit at the heart of a wider smile restoration plan (e.g., crowns/veneers + implant for a missing tooth).

Source: “Mike Tyson,” Wikipedia, accessed August 19, 2025.

Mike Tyson (Boxing Champion)

Known for: American boxer who, at age 20, became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

Implant story: Tyson’s smile journey included gold caps and later tooth-coloured restorations. One famous gold incisor was reportedly knocked out when his pet tiger head-butted him, after which he replaced the tooth—reportedly with a dental implant—and at times closed his trademark gap before bringing it back (Source: ibtimes.com).

Takeaway for patients: No one is immune to dental mishaps; modern implants can restore form and function even after unusual incidents.

Source: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images (January 30, 2017).

Gary Busey (American actor)

Known for: Films such as The Buddy Holly Story; recognisable for his bold personality and smile.

Implant story: In 1988 Busey had a serious motorcycle accident without a helmet, causing head trauma and dental injuries. Restorative work included dental implants for missing teeth and veneers for cracked teeth to rebuild his smile (Source: oceanreefdental.com.au).

Takeaway for patients: Full-mouth reconstruction with implants and veneers can restore appearance and function after severe accidents.

Source: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images (January 30, 2017).

Morgan Freeman (American actor and film producer)

Known for: Academy Award-winning actor, famed for The Shawshank Redemption and Driving Miss Daisy.

Implant story: In August 2008 Freeman survived a serious car accident that left him with a chipped front tooth. Reports indicate he had a dental implant placed and later opted for veneers that closed his gap and brightened his smile (Source: europedentalclinic.com).

Takeaway for patients: A single implant can restore a damaged or missing tooth and be part of a larger smile transformation, even later in life.

Demi Moore (American actress)

Known for: Ghost, Indecent Proposal, A Few Good Men.

Implant story: In 2017 Moore revealed on The Tonight Show that she lost her two front teeth due to stress-related grinding/clenching and praised modern dentistry for restoring her smile—almost certainly with implants and crowns (Source: people.com).

Takeaway for patients: Stress-related habits can be as damaging as trauma; implants can reliably replace even the most visible teeth.

Nicolas Cage (American actor and film producer)

Known for: Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, National Treasure.

Implant story: In the mid-1980s, Cage had two healthy teeth removed for authenticity in Birdy, then replaced them with implants; later cosmetic work reportedly included veneers and crowns (Sources: oceanreefdental.com.au, antlaradental.com).

Takeaway for patients: Implants aren’t only for accidents or ageing—they can replace teeth lost for unusual reasons and restore natural function.

50 Cent (American rapper and actor)

Known for: American rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, who rose to fame with the album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and is recognised as one of the defining hip-hop artists of the 2000s.
Implant story: In 2000, before his breakthrough in music, 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) survived being shot nine times at close range. One of the bullets struck his face, shattering his jaw and knocking out a tooth, alongside other dental injuries (Source: en.wikipedia.org). He lost a wisdom tooth and sustained further damage (Source: en.wikipedia.org). After recovering, he invested heavily in his smile, reportedly spending over $50,000 on dentistry that included dental implants to replace missing teeth and veneers to cover broken ones (Source: oceanreefdental.com.au). He has spoken about closing gaps in his teeth, while deliberately leaving his front teeth slightly larger so he would “still look like me” (Source: oceanreefdental.com.au). His transformation began with implants to restore what was lost, followed by veneers and cosmetic bonding to straighten and brighten his smile (Source: antlaradental.com). The end result was a dramatic upgrade, turning his once gapped and misaligned teeth into a uniform, gleaming grin that became part of his superstar image.

Takeaway for patients: Implants can be a crucial foundation for rebuilding smiles after severe trauma, while cosmetic additions like veneers complete the transformation—showing that even the most dramatic dental damage can be restored to a confident, natural-looking smile.