Colson Baker, better known to the world as Machine Gun Kelly, has never been a guy who does things halfway. Whether it’s stabbing a syringe into his chest during a performance or getting a blackout tattoo that covers his entire upper torso, the man lives for the extreme. So, it makes total sense that people are constantly scrutinizing his face. Specifically, his smile. If you look at photos of MGK teeth before and after his rise to global superstitness, you’ll notice something. It’s not just the hair that changed. It’s the alignment, the color, and the overall "Hollywood" polish of his grill.
He’s a punk-rocker at heart, or at least he plays one on stage. But he’s also a movie star. And in Hollywood, your teeth are basically your business card.
The internet is obsessed with whether he got veneers. Some fans think it was just high-end whitening and a bit of orthodontic work. Others are convinced he had a full-mouth reconstruction. When you’re constantly in the spotlight, especially next to someone like Megan Fox, every tiny physical change gets magnified a thousand times over. It’s kinda wild how much we care about a stranger's incisors, right?
What the Early Days Tell Us
In the early 2010s, MGK was a skinny kid from Cleveland trying to make it in the rap game. He had a look that was raw. Edgy. His teeth back then weren't "bad" by any stretch of the imagination, but they weren't the blindingly white, perfectly symmetrical rows we see today. They were natural. They had character. If you dig up old interview footage from his Lace Up era, you can see a bit of crowding. The lateral incisors weren't perfectly flush with the centrals.
It was a "street" look. It fit the aesthetic.
Fast forward a few years. As the budgets grew, so did the level of dental care. By the time he was filming The Dirt—where he played Tommy Lee—his smile started looking suspiciously uniform. Most dental experts, like those who analyze celebrity smiles on social media, point to this period as the likely turning point. It wasn't just a sudden change; it was a gradual refinement.
The Veneer Debate: Did He or Didn't He?
Let's talk about the "V" word. Veneers.
In the world of celebrity transformations, veneers are the go-to. They are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth. They fix everything: chips, gaps, stains, and minor misalignments. When you look at MGK teeth before and after comparisons, the most striking difference is the "breadth" of the smile.
Natural smiles often have what dentists call "buccal corridors"—those dark spaces at the corners of the mouth when you grin wide. High-end veneers often fill those spaces out. MGK’s current smile is wide. It’s bright. It has that specific translucency that high-quality porcelain provides.
Why the Change Matters
For an artist like Baker, the shift from rap to pop-punk meant a shift in branding. Pop-punk is glossy. It’s neon. It’s "Mainstream Sellout" (his own words). A polished smile fits that 2000s-revival aesthetic perfectly. Plus, there’s the practical side. Years of performing, tour life, and—let’s be honest—the lifestyle that often comes with rock stardom can take a toll on enamel.
Smoking, coffee, and the occasional stage mishap can lead to yellowing or chipping. Veneers aren't just about vanity; they’re about durability. They don’t stain like natural teeth.
The 2021 "Diamond" Incident
We can't talk about his teeth without mentioning the time he literally put diamonds in them. This wasn't a grill you can pop out before bed. In 2021, MGK collaborated with celebrity dentist Dr. Thomas Connelly—the same guy who worked on Post Malone’s $1.6 million diamond fangs.
Baker had a custom diamond encrusted into his tooth.
"It’s about the art," he basically said at the time. This wasn't a medical necessity. It was a flex. This is where the MGK teeth before and after narrative gets complicated. He isn't just trying to look "better"; he's trying to look "custom." Most people go to the dentist to look normal. MGK goes to the dentist to look like a rock star.
Dr. Connelly has been quoted saying that these types of procedures require incredibly precise work to ensure the structural integrity of the tooth isn't compromised. It involves creating a "seat" for the diamond. It’s permanent. Or at least, as permanent as anything is in his world.
The Megan Fox Effect
People love to point out that his biggest physical transformations happened around the time he started dating Megan Fox. It’s a classic trope: the "relationship glow-up." When your partner is one of the most famously beautiful women in the world, you probably feel a bit of pressure to keep up.
But it’s more than that. They share a specific, hyper-curated "Goth-lite" aesthetic. Everything is deliberate. The clothes, the nails, the blood-drinking anecdotes, and yes, the teeth. Their public appearances are heavily photographed. If MGK had a crooked tooth or a yellowed smile, it would be the only thing the tabloids talked about. By opting for a perfect dental profile, he removes that distraction.
Addressing the "Fake" Allegations
Are they too perfect? Honestly, some people think so. There’s a segment of the fanbase that misses the "Raw MGK." They feel like the perfect teeth are a symbol of him becoming "too Hollywood."
But let’s be real. If you had the money to fix a chipped tooth or a crooked smile, wouldn't you? Most of us would. The difference is that he did it in front of millions of people. There's also the "uncanny valley" effect. Sometimes, when a dentist goes too white—like "refrigerator white"—it can look jarring. MGK has mostly avoided this by choosing a shade that, while bright, still has some natural variation.
Technical Reality of Celebrity Dental Work
If you're looking to replicate the MGK teeth before and after results, you aren't looking at a single trip to the dentist. It’s a process.
- Orthodontics: Most celebs start with Invisalign or hidden braces to get the foundation right. You can't just slap veneers on top of severely crossed teeth; it looks bulky.
- Gum Contouring: This is the "secret" step. Dentists use lasers to reshape the gum line so the teeth look longer and more symmetrical.
- The Prep: A tiny amount of enamel is shaved down. This is the part people find scary because it's irreversible.
- Temporary Veneers: You wear these for a week or two to "test drive" the look.
- Final Bonding: The porcelain is attached.
It’s expensive. A full set of high-end veneers can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 depending on the doctor. For someone like MGK, it's an investment in his brand.
What Fans Often Get Wrong
A common misconception is that MGK has "dentures." No. He’s in his 30s. Dentures are for when you’ve lost your teeth. Veneers are a facade. There is a huge difference between the two in terms of feel, cost, and maintenance.
Another myth is that his teeth are "fake" because of the diamonds. The diamonds are usually set into a veneer or a crown, or sometimes directly into the tooth if the patient is okay with it. The tooth itself is still there (mostly).
How to Handle Your Own "Before and After"
If you’re staring at MGK’s smile and then looking in the mirror, don't feel bad. His smile is the result of thousands of dollars and world-class specialists. But you can take away some actual lessons from his transformation.
First, dental health is cumulative. MGK likely had to get his oral hygiene in check before any of the cosmetic stuff could happen. You can't put a diamond on a tooth with a cavity.
Second, consider the "natural" look. If you do go the veneer route, tell your dentist you want "imperfections." The reason some people clock MGK’s teeth as being "after" work is because they are almost too straight. A little bit of character makes a smile look expensive, not just "fixed."
Practical Next Steps for Your Smile
If you want to move toward a more "Hollywood" smile without the rock star budget, start with the basics. Professionally supervised whitening (the kind you get at the office, not the strips from the drugstore) makes a massive difference. If alignment is the issue, modern clear aligners have become way more accessible than they were five years ago.
- Consult a Cosmetic Specialist: Don't just go to a general dentist for veneers. Look for someone who specializes in "smile design."
- Request a Mock-up: Most good dentists can show you a digital or wax version of what your "after" will look like before they touch a drill.
- Maintain the Foundation: No amount of porcelain can save a tooth if the bone and gums underneath aren't healthy. Flossing isn't optional.
MGK's journey from a kid with a gritty Cleveland smile to a diamond-toothed global icon is just another chapter in his book of reinvention. It's a reminder that in the modern era, our physical appearance is often just another canvas for self-expression. Whether you love the new look or miss the old one, you can't deny it’s a transformation that worked.
The most important takeaway isn't that you need diamonds in your mouth. It's that a smile is one of the few things you can actually "redesign" if you're unhappy with it. It takes time, a good doctor, and—in MGK's case—a whole lot of confidence.
Actionable Insights:
- Assess your goals: Are you looking for a color change or a structural change? Whitening is cheap; veneers are a lifelong commitment.
- Research the "Bio-Emulation" trend: This is a style of dentistry that mimics natural tooth anatomy rather than the "flat white" look of the early 2000s.
- Prioritize function: A beautiful smile is useless if your bite is off. Ensure any cosmetic work improves, or at least doesn't hurt, how you actually chew.
- Budget for maintenance: Veneers don't last forever. They usually need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. Factor that into the long-term cost before jumping in.