Cardi B is as renowned for her larger-than-life personality and lyrical genius as she is for her stunning transformation. From her early days in The Bronx, New York, to her meteoric rise to fame, the rap artist has continually evolved, not least in her radiant smile.
Did Cardi B Get Braces?
A significant component of Cardi B’s transformation was her dental work, a journey she embarked on in 2017. When she first started blowing up, her teeth were obviously not perfect. She definitely noticed this, saying: “So I see all the comments and I decided, alright. I give up. I’m going to get some dental work.“
So our title is a little clickbaity: this was actually no secret – the rapper was quite open about her decision to enhance her smile, stating in a video posted on the Smile Dental account, “If you don’t feel comfortable if you are tired of people talking about you, then go and fix it,” she advised. “Like, it’s alright to fix it.“
The architect of her new smile was Dr. Catrise Austin, a renowned New York dentist who’s worked with many celebrities. Cardi’s dental journey didn’t involve traditional braces or Invisalign, as one might think. Instead, she opted for porcelain veneers.
Cardi B before veneers and before having her braces fixed seems like a totally different person!
Dr. Austin did actually have braces when she was 15, and she says that the dentist who did this “had literally given me my life back”. It was this boost that made her feel like she had to become a dentist herself.
Cardi talked about it in her song Bodak Yellow: “Got a bag and fixed my teeth, hope you **** know it ain’t cheap“.
What Are Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth. They are strong and resilient, much like natural tooth enamel, and can correct a wide range of dental issues, from chips and cracks to discoloration.
For Cardi, she chose them as she had obviously lost or heavily chipped parts of her lower teeth. The results of Cardi’s dental transformation were showcased on Season 7 of Love & Hip Hop: New York, where her new teeth made their debut. The stunning transformation was not only an aesthetic upgrade but also a confidence booster for the rapper, paving the way for her continued success.
Cardi B’s dental journey is an inspiring story of transformation, self-love, and the pursuit of confidence. It’s a reminder that it’s not just okay to invest in one’s self and one’s happiness, but it’s essential. As Cardi B herself would say, “I make money moves,” and indeed, her investment in her smile was undoubtedly a move that paid off.
Getting dental work, whatever your age, is something that can really boost your confidence. However, getting veneers is not the first course of action we’d recommend. Getting veneers does involve the alteration of your natural teeth.
Other celebrities have had work – Lil Tecca’s braces just got removed, and Coi Leray’s braces were gold! Doja Cat got veneers too, even though her teeth were almost perfect before.
Before applying a veneer, a dentist typically removes about 0.5 millimeters of enamel from the tooth surface, which is roughly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. This process cannot be undone, and not everyone is a good candidate for veneers.
We’d always advise that keeping your natural teeth is the best way to go. Long-term, veneers and other work that removes any of your natural enamel will require further work and can lead to more complications.
If the main issue with your teeth is that they are crooked, then getting braces or Invisalign can be the best course of action to fix this. If you have chipped teeth or staining, you can always get these things worked on without losing your enamel or taking some of your teeth away.
How Much Did Cardi B’s Teeth Cost?
Cardi B’s veneer work cost $12,500 in total, but she’ll need them cleaned and checked regularly. Veneers sometimes break, and it’s likely that she’ll need them all removed for cleaning and replacement in 10 to 20 years.
As a result of Cardi B’s work making her popular, the dentist she went to now charges upwards of $40k for a full set – a pretty big bump!
