Tiger King Tooth Repair: Our Lenoir Dentist Discusses John Finlay’s New Smile!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of “Tiger King”, the Netflix docuseries that has turned into quarantine’s biggest sensation. The series follows eccentric tiger keeper Joe Exotic, as well as an equally wild cast of characters and their antics.
One such character is Exotic’s ex-husband, John Finley, who is shown to be suffering from multiple missing teeth. As dentists, we couldn’t help but be fascinated incredible dental restoration Finley received during and after filming. In today’s post, we dive into the details of the restoration, and explain how you can restore your own smile if you’re experiencing your own gapping issues.
What Caused Finlay’s Dental Issues?
The documentary seems to strongly imply that Finlay’s missing teeth are a result of his early drug use, a condition informally referred to as “meth mouth.” In interviews, however, Finlay has stated that drugs were not the cause of his significant tooth decay. “I was four years clean from drugs [at the time of filming] — something else they left out,” he told People magazine. I had a genetic issue relating to my teeth and had made several previous attempts to repair them.” Although Finlay does not name the disorder, it may be Amelogenesis imperfecta, a rare condition that causes tooth enamel to be soft and weak, leading to issues like rapid wear and breakage. People with Amelogenesis imperfecta experience significant pain and discomfort due to lack of enamel, as well as early tooth decay and loss.
Whether the tooth loss was caused by drug use, genetics, or oral hygiene issues (or all three), Finlay’s new smile looks incredible and is undoubtedly causing him less pain and discomfort.
The Solution: Full Dentures
The easiest way for Finlay’s dentist to restore his smile was to extract the remaining teeth, and create a set of full dentures. The remaining teeth were not healthy enough to support a dental bridge, and having that many dental implants would impact the strength of his jaws. Therefore, dentures were the most permanent fix.
As much as Finlay would have preferred to have his new smile shown on the series from its original launch, he told People that he is ultimately happy with the makeover for giving him a fresh start and newfound confidence. “I did this dental transformation as a way of closing a prior chapter of my life, so it also signified my new chapter, the new me,” he said. “I am not someone who is very vain…but for my self-esteem, the new teeth have done wonders.”
Now, smiling with his brand-new pearly whites, Finlay is appreciative of the overwhelming support he has received from fans worldwide, and opportunities that have opened up.
How Our Lenoir Dentist Can Help Restore Your Quality of Life
Dentures truly can improve almost every aspect of your life. Not only do patients regain lost confidence and self-esteem, as Finlay mentioned, they also enable them to eat crunchy fruits and vegetables, resulting in better overall health and wellness. Dentures also mean that you can communicate, smile, and laugh without fear of judgement! To learn more about getting dentures or any other cosmetic procedure from our Lenoir NC dentist, please click here to request an appointment.