Glendale has always been a city where smiles matter. It has a special connection with the entertainment industry, establishing itself as an important hub for film and animation production. It also lies in close proximity to Hollywood.
The quest for perfect smiles began in Hollywood’s golden age, and today, Glendale residents can reap the benefits of dental innovation and progress over the years. Cosmetic dentistry is now available to everyone, not just film and television stars. Cosmetic dentistry services at your local dentist in Glendale, CA, include:
- Teeth whitening
- Porcelain veneers
- Dental implants
- Dental crowns and bridges
- Adult orthodontics
Let’s walk through how cosmetic dentistry got started in early Hollywood and trace it through the years. Then, we’ll talk about how cosmetic dentistry relates to your life.
1920s-1930s: The Birth of Hollywood and the Golden Age
In 1928, Dr. Charles Pincus, a California dentist, invented the first dental veneers to help actors get camera-ready smiles. His technique involved attaching thin acrylic covers to actors’ teeth using temporary adhesive. At this time, film was evolving from silent films to “talkies”, making dental appearance suddenly important, as actors’ teeth were more visible on screen.
Early veneers could only stay in place for a couple of hours, great for filming, but were removed after, like any other costume piece.
By the 1930s, the movie industry was one of the most profitable businesses in the United States. Even as the Great Depression darkened the American landscape, millions of people continued to see movies, seeking escape during hard times. Stars like Clark Gable and Greta Garbo became cultural icons, some of the first movie stars, setting new beauty standards. Regular people were starting to think about the appearance of their teeth.
1940s-1960s: A Bridge to Modern Dentistry
Orthodontics became increasingly sophisticated during this time, when stainless steel was introduced to the field. Teeth whitening was also evolving dramatically. By the 1940s and 1950s, ether and hydrogen peroxide gels were used to whiten teeth. These treatments were quite harsh compared to modern whitening treatments. Not something you’d want done to your teeth! Thankfully, modern dentistry was on its way.
1970s-1980s: Technological Breakthroughs in Dentistry
In the 1950s, Dr. Michael Buonocore introduced the idea of using etching techniques that allowed porcelain veneers to bond to etched enamel. Two doctors, Simonsen and Calamia, further built upon this idea in their 1983 paper, Tensile Bond Strengths of Etched Porcelain. They figured out that porcelain could be etched with hydrofluoric acid, achieving a more permanent bond strength.
Your Modern Dentist in Glendale, CA
Today’s cosmetic dentistry has evolved significantly since Hollywood’s golden age. Advances throughout the 1990s and 2000s have brought us digital imaging, gentler and more effective laser whitening, and porcelain materials that have continued to improve to mimic enamel’s translucency.
Dr. Lucio H. Kim, a dentist in Glendale, CA, represents the new generation of cosmetic dental artistry. At his practice, an expert team uses leading-edge technology and personalized care to offer the treatment that Hollywood stars once sought.
At his Glendale office, you’ll find a full spectrum of cosmetic treatments to get a Hollywood-worthy smile, including:
- Porcelain veneers
- Professional whitening systems
- Clear aligners that straighten teeth invisibly
- Crown and bridge treatments
- Implants
What sets modern dentistry apart is natural-looking results. Rather than the ultra-white, uniform look of early Hollywood, today’s dentists focus on individualized smiles that complement facial features.
If you’d like your teeth to look camera-ready, consider giving us a call today. We’d love to talk about your smile goals and help you get started.