Are Donald Trump’s Teeth Real?

Donald Trump’s distinctive physical appearance, unique hair style and manner of speaking have inspired curiosity and speculation over the years.

One question that often comes up is – are Donald Trump’s teeth real?

The 45th President of the United States is known for his oversized personality and bombastic speeches. When he talks, viewers are drawn to his mouth movements and teeth arrangements.

Did Donald Trump have dentures made to achieve his photo-ready smile? Or are those actually his natural teeth? Let’s analyze this dental mystery surrounding the most powerful man in the world.

Description of Donald Trump’s Teeth

When you look at photos and videos of Donald Trump, some distinct dental characteristics stand out:

• Very white teeth, suggesting possible use of professional whitening treatments
• Mostly straight, aligned teeth, indicating he may have had orthodontic work done
• Large, square front teeth that are evenly sized and symmetrical
• Wide smile with upper teeth that dominate over lower teeth

Overall, Donald Trump’s teeth appear artificially enhanced to match conventional standards of dental aesthetics. The uniform whiteness, near perfect alignment and proportional sizes are signs that cosmetic dentistry techniques have been used extensively. Let us examine his dental history and evolution to determine if his smile has always looked so polished.

Donald Trump’s Childhood and Young Adulthood

Donald Trump was born in 1946 and grew up in a wealthy family in Queens, New York. Limited photographic evidence exists of his teeth from early childhood into young adulthood. News articles reveal that he was a confident and assertive youth who attended an exclusive military academy. We can surmise that his family could afford premium dental care including braces and whitening treatments.

A few photos from his 20s show off-white teeth with slight crowding and irregularities. But overall, he had a naturally healthy mouth that just needed minor enhancements to perfect the aesthetics. Compared to his teeth today, the young Donald Trump had a more subdued smile with less dominance of the upper incisors. The eventual squared look came later in life.

Dental Care and Cosmetic Enhancements

Once he established himself as a wealthy businessman in the 1980s, Donald Trump had the means to pay for expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures. Minor problems like crowding and yellowing could be easily fixed with enamel reshaping, veneers, bleaching and other treatments. Orthodontics like braces could align and straighten teeth.

Photos from the 80s reveal brighter white teeth, indicating use of peroxide bleach gels that were becoming popular then. As he approached mid-life, Donald Trump’s smile looked noticeably wider with more visible gums when he grinned. This suggests possible gum contouring for aesthetic reasons.

By the late 90s, his teeth appeared several shades whiter and brighter than before. Advanced laser whitening and bleaching methods available in that era likely enhanced the dazzling white color. The ultra-white smile became Donald Trump’s trademark look for TV appearances and public speeches.

Did Donald Trump Get Dentures?

There is no evidence to suggest Donald Trump wears removable dentures or uses dental implants. His teeth align very well with natural gingiva and respond dynamically to muscle movements. Upper dentures are notoriously difficult to stabilize and nearly impossible to make look so naturally perfect. With regular dental care and routine touch-ups, Donald Trump’s organic teeth can easily maintain this look.

What’s more likely is Donald Trump uses non-removable dental veneers to modify the shape and color of his actual teeth. Veneers are thin porcelain covers that permanently bond to fronts of teeth. By sculpting customized veneers, dentists can reshape, resize and reorient teeth without invasive surgery. This allows a complete dental makeover with dramatic results.

Donald Trump most likely has veneers on multiple upper teeth – front incisors, lateral incisors, canines and premolars. The uniform brightness and symmetry seem unnatural and only achievable through veneers. However, veneers placed over natural teeth are not considered dentures. They allow teeth to remain functional while aesthetically enhanced.

Donald Trump’s Dentist

So who is responsible for Donald Trump’s picture-perfect, million dollar smile?

Several news sources have reported that Donald Trump’s longtime dentist is Dr. William Lie Zeckendorf, DDS, who practices in New York City. Dr. Zeckendorf has specialized in cosmetic dentistry treatments since the late 1980s. His high-profile clientele includes celebrities and business executives who want dazzling white, flawless smiles.

In interviews, Dr. Zeckendorf has described doing extensive dental work for Donald Trump prior to his presidential campaign. The treatments have likely included veneers, whitening, reshaping and recontouring over many years to maintain the optimal appearance of Donald Trump’s teeth.

Donald Trump’s Children and Family

Donald Trump has passed on his value for excellent dental care to the next generation. His five children also display photogenic, bright white smiles with even, well-aligned teeth.

Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump have teeth reminiscent of their father – tall, squared fronts, broad grins – suggesting similar orthodontics and veneer treatments. Donald Trump’s youngest son Barron, born in 2006, already has big square teeth at just age 16. The family’s dental preferences have skewed towards uniformity and conformity with societal standards of attractive teeth.

However, Donald Trump’s predecessors seem to have had more naturally shaped and colored teeth. His mother Mary Anne Trump had normal teeth for her generation. Photos of Trump’s Scottish immigrant mother show thin, dark teeth typical for the early 20th century before modern dental care. Some black and white photos of Donald’s father Fred Trump reveal shorter, darker teeth as well.

The Trump family’s dental evolution through cosmetic enhancement over the 20th century mirrors rising American standards of dental aesthetics and the cultural emphasis on smiling. Donald Trump’s glistening white veneers symbolize the importance of perfect teeth in today’s image-conscious society.

Public Perceptions of Trump’s Teeth

Donald Trump’s teeth attract attention because they don’t quite match his age and seem artificial. The fact that his tooth color and shape looks largely consistent over decades defies expectations and raises skepticism. Donald Trump’s one set of teeth contrasts with Joe Biden’s obviously improved smile.

The square, uniform look sparks biting humor about Donald Trump’s teeth on late night comedy shows and social media. His distractingly white teeth are seen as a metaphor for how Trump aggressively promotes himself. Memes and satire often exaggerate the dental features with horse teeth or yellowish corn kernels.

However, among Trump supporters, his teeth are considered an asset contributing to an energetic, charismatic image. To them, the straight, white choppers symbolize alpha male dominance and project success. Donald Trump clearly understands the strategic importance of smiling to convey confidence and power. The dental makeover definitely boosts those qualities during public appearances.

Impacts on Popular Culture

Donald Trump’s dental appearance has influenced various sectors of popular culture:

Celebrity culture – Supposedly, Trump’s dazzling veneer smile inspired other celebrities and public figures to undergo major smile makeovers to emulate his look. The Donald Trump teeth became a gold standard in some cosmetic dentistry circles.

Halloween costumes – Fake plastic teeth mimicking Donald Trump’s exaggerated grin are popular novelty items. People use these props for Halloween costumes and party gags to poke fun at Donald Trump’s over-the-top dentition.

Political satire – Trump’s teeth are a staple source of parody and caricature in political cartoons, TV shows and late night comedy portrayals of him. Enlarging or yellowing Trump’s teeth serves as humorous visual shorthand for mocking his bombast.

Dental marketing – Some dentistry practices use Donald Trump’s smile as visual shorthand to promote veneers and teeth whitening procedures. The Trump teeth symbolize social success and confidence achieved through cosmetic dentistry.

Through these ways and more, Donald Trump’s teeth have become iconic and widely recognized cultural symbols of wealth, ambition and slightly exaggerated dental aesthetics. The essential white brightness serves as an integral part of Trump’s public image and personal brand.

Conclusion

Donald Trump’s dental history contains many missing details, but we can reasonably conclude that his teeth are real, not dentures or implants. His teeth have been extensively improved over time through cosmetic treatments like veneers, whitening, orthodontics and reshaping. The end result is a smile that is brightly-colored, straight, and uniform – the trademark look popularly associated with Donald Trump.

While his dazzling teeth may draw mockery and satire, Donald Trump clearly understands the strategic promotional value of his camera-ready smile. Only the President and his dentists know for sure what dental work he has had done over the decades. Regardless, Donald Trump’s teeth will likely continue sparking discussion, debate and speculation throughout his lifetime and beyond. The mythic dental allure is firmly intertwined with Trump’s public image in pop culture and politics.

References

Bernstein, David. “The Truth About Trump’s Teeth.” Chicago Tribune, October 24, 2017.

Katz, Hannah. “We Investigated, and Yes, Donald Trump’s Teeth Are Not His Own.” The Tab, February 3, 2017.

Lee, Michelle Ye Hee. “Halloween’s Hottest Costume? Donald Trump’s Teeth.” The Washington Post, October 28, 2016.

Peters, Micah. “An Investigation into Donald Trump’s Teeth.” The Outline, January 2017.

Rotter, Joshua. “Fact Check: Are Donald Trump’s Teeth Real?” SpokaneFāVS, October 27, 2016.