Cosmetic dentists respond to the news that musician Machine Gun Kelly has had his teeth altered to create ‘vampire fangs’.
On 15 July, the rapper and singer-songwriter revealed the results of a cosmetic dental procedure to create pointed upper canines on Instagram (photo: @machinegunkelly). He also debuted tooth gems on the upper lateral incisors.
The dentistry was carried out by Dani Benyaminy (Dr Dani B), a cosmetic dentist based in Los Angeles.
Posting on Instagram, Dr Benyaminy said: ‘I’m not sure how it happened, but @machinegunkelly finally convinced me to give him the vampire fangs he has wanted.’
Many news outlets state that Kelly’s teeth have been ‘sharpened’, but it is unclear exactly how the results were achieved. Two cosmetic dentists shared their thoughts on how Machine Gun Kelly’s teeth have been altered and whether this can be considered ethical dentistry.
Luke Hutchings, president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
So Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) has got new teeth. Whether this is a further sign of narcissism or merely an expression of his personality can no doubt be debated. Either way people are certainly talking about it which I am sure is part of the rationale to his treatment, so mission accomplished!
The somewhat blurry press and social media pictures I’ve seen show what look like ‘vampire fangs’. MGK states he has ‘sharpened his teeth into two tusks’. The sharpening part is somewhat concerning to me. Certainly, cosmetic contouring is a well-established tool in the cosmetic dentist’s armamentarium that can facilitate very impactful changes to a smile. Sharpening, however, certainly sounds more aggressive.
What worries me is a continued celebrity movement for seemingly invasive dental treatments for cosmetic reasons and the potential that their fans may well follow suit without fully thinking of the longer-term consequences.
In reality it looks to me like his dentist Dr Dani B has added some composite tips to the canines, something I have actually done for my 11-year-old daughter at Halloween (albeit hers weren’t bonded!) Composite bonding is a well-documented cosmetic procedure, which is generally minimally invasive and fairly reversible. As such I would say his dentist has acted ethically.
For me the main story here is very much the sensationalism of sharpening his teeth into tusks. Also the fact other less informed individuals may well follow suit. Sadly, my imagination conjures up thoughts of some young kid in their bedroom somewhere filling away trying to create tusks as I write this. The message is, ‘MGK did it so it must be cool’ and to me this is the harm in this tale.
Aneka Khaira, cosmetic dentist
Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) is known for his bold and unconventional style, often pushing the boundaries of fashion and aesthetics. Recently, he has taken this a step further by debuting a new set of vampire-like canines.
Dr Dani B, a dentist specialising in aesthetic dentistry, redesigned MGK’s smile to include what appears to be upper six veneers: super long, sharp canines and much shorter upper central incisors, with tooth gems added to the laterals. The biological impact of veneers is irreversible but as long as the veneers are additive then hopefully this should be minimally invasive.
Celebrity smiles have often become statement pieces, breaking all rules of fashion. From metal anterior crowns to diamond-studded grillz, stars continually try to grab headlines with their unique dental choices. MGK’s new look is intended to reflect his personality and alter ego, drawing inspiration from the Norse god Odin, as evidenced by his latest tattoos.
The transformation is a striking deviation from traditional dental aesthetics, defying the rules of the ‘golden proportion’ for an ideal smile. However, MGK’s new smile aligns with his daring and unique appearances, making a bold statement that challenges conventional beauty standards.
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