Taylor Swift’s Chipped Tooth and 9 Celebrity Dental Emergencies That Went Public
Taylor Swift’s Chipped Tooth… and 9 Other Celebrity Dental Disasters You Won’t Believe
You know how when something happens to a celebrity, everyone immediately starts Googling it? Well, when Taylor Swift chipped her tooth during a live performance, fans went straight to their phones. They were all searching the same things: "How did Taylor Swift chip her tooth?" "Which tooth was it?" "Are there pictures?"
But here's the thing: she's definitely not the first celebrity this has happened to.
Whether it's a concert gone wrong or an awkward moment on the red carpet, even A-listers sometimes find themselves desperately needing a dentist at the absolute worst time. And when you think about it, these celebrity dental mishaps aren't just gossip fodder. They're a pretty good reminder that anyone's perfect smile can turn into a dental emergency in seconds.
Here are 10 celebrities who've learned the hard way that dental emergencies don't care how famous you are:
1. Taylor Swift: From On-Stage Oops to a Veneer Reveal
You know Taylor Swift's smile almost as well as her lyrics, right? Well, even she’s had those alarming, blink-and-it-happens moments when something goes wrong with your teeth. During one of her high-energy concerts, during her Red Tour back in 2013, she got a little too enthusiastic with her microphone and accidentally smacked herself right in the mouth, chipping a tooth while thousands of fans watched.
Taylor being Taylor, she just kept going like nothing happened. But eagle-eyed fans definitely noticed something was off and immediately started playing detective online: "Wait, did Taylor Swift just chip her tooth?" "Which tooth was it?" "Did anyone get a picture?"
In a later interview, she explained the moment with her usual honesty and humor: she wasn’t even sure which tooth it was at first, only that it definitely “had a tip on it” and “doesn’t anymore.” Rather than rush to repair it, she made the bold decision to leave the chip as-is, living with it for over a decade.
But by 2023, something had clearly changed. Fans noticed that Swift’s signature smile looked just a little more polished: straighter, brighter, and without the small jagged edge that had long been a subtle part of her look. Without confirming anything publicly, it appears she opted for veneers, likely addressing not just the chipped tooth but some minor cosmetic refinements as well.
Believe it or not, Taylor’s not the only singer who’s had a mic turn on them mid-performance. Keep reading... a few other big names have had similar “oops” moments on stage. Truthfully? It's kind of reassuring to know that even global superstars can have those moments with their teeth. Whether you're performing in front of 50,000 people or just giving a work presentation, a chipped tooth can happen in the blink of an eye. And when it does, you'll want to get it fixed fast to keep your confidence intact.
Photo Credit: iHeartRadioCA
2. Tiger Woods: Front Tooth Knocked Out at a Ski Race
In 2015, golf legend Tiger Woods traveled to Italy to support then-girlfriend Lindsey Vonn at a ski event. But while navigating the crowd, he was accidentally hit in the face by a camera, knocking out a front tooth.
You can see the aftermath of the front tooth injury for yourself in this video clip:
He covered up the injury with a scarf and sunglasses, but the need to fix a missing tooth was clear when the cameras caught him. The incident left him scrambling for dental help in a foreign country. It became a viral moment, not because of the pain, but because of the surprise.
You never know when a smile emergency might hit. Whether you're on vacation, at a sporting event, or just out and about, a chipped or knocked-out tooth demands immediate care to prevent long-term damage.
3. Joe Biden: Presidential Tooth Pain at the Worst Time
Being president means your schedule is packed with world leaders, important meetings, and zero flexibility for personal emergencies. So when Joe Biden woke up with serious tooth pain in June 2023, it wasn't like he could just call in sick and deal with it later.
Joe Biden’s dental emergency required immediate root canal treatment.
The pain was coming from a lower right premolar, and it was bad enough that a dental team from Walter Reed had to come to the White House on a Sunday to start a root canal. But here's the thing about dental emergencies: they don't care about your calendar. By Monday, Biden was still in pain and needed the procedure finished.
The result? He had to postpone a meeting with NATO's Secretary-General and skip a reception for chiefs of mission. Vice President Kamala Harris had to step in for him at a College Athlete Day event while he was getting his tooth fixed at the White House.
It's kind of wild to think about. Even when you're the most powerful person in the world, a toothache can completely derail your day. Root canals don't wait for anyone, not even presidents. It goes to show that dental emergencies have zero respect for timing, and when they hit, everything else has to wait while you seek out urgent dental care.
4. Hilary Duff: The Ultimate Wedding Day Nightmare
If you've ever planned a wedding, you know that despite the best planning efforts, things can go wrong... usually at the worst possible moment. Well, Hilary Duff learned this the hard way when she cracked a front tooth just hours before walking down the aisle.
We're talking about a front tooth here. You know, the kind that shows up in every single wedding photo, every smile, every kiss shot that photographers love to capture. The timing was absolutely brutal, like the universe was testing just how much wedding stress one person can handle.
But here's where quick thinking saved the day. Instead of having a complete meltdown (which, let's be real, would've been totally justified), Hilary made an emergency dash to the dentist. Thank goodness for dental professionals who understand that some situations just can't wait until Monday.
The result? She made it to her ceremony with her smile intact, and nobody would ever know from looking at the photos that there was any drama at all:
In truth, it's the perfect example of why having a dentist you can call in emergencies is so important. Because when you're about to have one of the most photographed days of your life, a cracked tooth isn't just a dental issue; it's a potential disaster that needs immediate fixing with quick solutions like cosmetic bonding.
5. Viggo Mortensen: Method Acting Meets Dental Reality
You know how some actors are so dedicated to their craft that they'll do almost anything for a scene? Well, Viggo Mortensen took that commitment to a whole new level while filming The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. During an intense battle sequence, he broke a tooth, and being the absolute professional (or maybe just stubborn guy) that he is, he decided to power through and finish the entire scene first.
We're talking about a broken tooth here. Most people would immediately yell "cut!" and head straight to the nearest dentist. But not Viggo. He stayed in character as Aragorn and kept going like nothing happened, probably thinking something like "What would a ranger do?"
Eventually, though, even the toughest Middle-earth warrior has to face reality... you can't battle orcs indefinitely with a busted molar. He did end up getting proper dental care, but not before giving us this moment where you can actually see him flashing that broken-tooth grin:
The guy took it like an absolute champ. It's probably one of the best "the show must go on" moments in movie history. But it's also a pretty good reminder that even when you're in full warrior mode, dental emergencies don't just disappear because you're tough; they need actual professional attention.
6. Daniel Craig: When 007 Meets Dental Reality
Being James Bond means you're expected to look effortlessly cool while getting punched, shot at, and thrown around by bad guys. But when Daniel Craig was filming Casino Royale, he learned that even secret agents aren't immune to dental disasters.
During what was supposed to be a routine fight scene, Craig took a hit to the face that made him lose his two front teeth. We're not talking about a little nick here.
"He was reeling from a heavy blow and staggered back holding his face. He put his hand to his mouth, but the blood started to seep through his fingers." - An inside source, according to the Daily Mirror
Now, most productions might just work around it or use some movie magic to hide the damage. But when you're the face of a multi-million dollar Bond film, that's not really an option. So what did they do? They flew his personal dentist directly to the set to fix the problem.
You can imagine what that cost. Not just the emergency dental work, but the production delays, the crew sitting around waiting, the entire machine of a major movie grinding to a halt because of one chipped tooth. But Craig, being the professional he is, didn't make a big fuss about it and got back to work once everything was sorted.
This is another great example of how dental emergencies can throw a wrench into even the most carefully planned situations. When your smile is key to your career, you can't just tough it out, you need immediate, professional care.
7. Michael Bublé: Attack of the Rogue Mic
You'd think that after years of performing, a professional singer would have the whole microphone thing down to a science. (As we know from the Taylor Swift chipped tooth incident, this is not the case.) Michael Bublé learned that even the smoothest crooner can have an off night.
During a concert in Sydney back in May 2014, he accidentally smacked his microphone right into his tooth during just the second song of the show... and knocked it clean out.
Now here's what makes this story even more impressive: Bublé being the total professional he is, he just kept singing like nothing happened. The audience had no clue that their favorite singer was performing an entire concert with a missing tooth. Talk about "the show must go on" mentality.
It wasn't until after the concert that he could finally deal with the reality of what had happened. And being the good sport he is, he actually shared a photo from the dentist's chair on Instagram, letting fans in on the whole dramatic saga:
It's both hilarious and impressive that he managed to pull off an entire performance without anyone noticing. But it's also a perfect reminder that even when you're a seasoned pro, accidents happen fast. And sometimes you just have to smile through it (even if you're missing a tooth while you do it).
8. Steven Tyler: When the Rock God's Mouth Rebels
When you're the frontman of Aerosmith and your voice is literally worth millions, your mouth isn't just important, it's everything. Steven Tyler learned this the hard way in 2009 when he needed emergency dental surgery that was so serious, it forced the band to cancel several Las Vegas shows.
We're talking about Steven Tyler here. The guy who's been screaming, singing, and performing for decades. For him to actually stop a tour and disappoint thousands of fans? You know the dental situation had to be pretty intense.
When your entire career depends on what comes out of your mouth, you can't just tough it out and hope for the best.
The whole thing was a stark reminder that for performers, especially singers, dental health isn't just about looking good; it's about being able to do their job at all.
When something goes wrong in your mouth, it can literally shut down your entire career until it's fixed.
For most of us, a dental emergency means a bad day at work. For Steven Tyler, it meant disappointing thousands of fans and losing who knows how much money. But hey, that's what happens when your smile and your voice are both part of your million-dollar brand.
9. Jim Carrey: When Childhood Dental Drama Becomes Comedy Gold
Most actors go to great lengths to look perfect on screen: veneers, whitening, you name it. But Jim Carrey? He went in the complete opposite direction for Dumb and Dumber. That iconic chipped tooth that made Lloyd Christmas so memorable wasn't some fancy movie prosthetic, it was totally real.
The chipped tooth Jim Carrey revealed in Dumb and Dumber actually originated way back in childhood, and over the years, he'd gotten it fixed with a crown like any normal person would. But when it came time to play Lloyd, he made the bold decision to have his dentist remove the crown, basically undoing years of dental work to bring back his original chipped tooth.
Talk about commitment to a role. Most people spend their whole lives trying to fix dental imperfections from their childhood, and here's Jim Carrey voluntarily bringing his back for the sake of comedy. In a way, it's kind of genius. That chipped tooth became as much a part of Lloyd's character as his bowl cut.
It's a perfect example of how old dental injuries can come back into your life when you least expect it. For most of us, that's not a good thing. But for Jim Carrey, it became movie history. Though let's be honest, the rest of us probably shouldn't be removing our crowns for anything less than a major Hollywood paycheck.
10. Jennifer Lopez: When Perfection Meets Reality
If there's one thing we all know about Jennifer Lopez, it's that her smile, seen by millions, is the kind that lights up red carpets and sells out arenas.
So when she chipped a tooth during a live performance, it was like watching a crack appear in the most perfect diamond. It’s not the first time this has happened to a singer mid-show. Just ask Michael Bublé, or rewind to the Taylor Swift chipped tooth moment that sent the internet buzzing. Apparently, microphones have it out for pop stars.
The crazy thing is, J.Lo being J.Lo, she just kept going like nothing happened. Most of us would probably stop mid-sentence and cover our mouth in horror, but she powered through the entire performance like the total professional she is. Because that's what you do when you're Jennifer Lopez; you don't let a little dental drama ruin the show.
Here's Jennifer Lopez talking about that chipped tooth moment:
But here's the reality check: even the tiniest chip becomes a massive deal when you're performing under those bright stadium lights. What might be barely noticeable in normal lighting suddenly becomes this glaring imperfection that thousands of people (and countless cameras) can spot.
For someone whose image is literally part of her brand, that's not just a dental issue, it's a career concern.
It's actually somewhat comforting to know that even someone as put-together as J.Lo can have those "oops" moments with her teeth. Because if it can happen to her, with all her resources and professional team, it can definitely happen to any of us. The difference is, most of us don't have to finish a concert afterward.
What Can We Learn from All This?
Whether you’re in the public eye or just headed to work, a dental emergency can strike at the most inconvenient time. And for every star who had a team fly in their dentist for urgent dental care, there are thousands of people left scrambling.
But that doesn’t have to be you.
We’re Here For Your Dental Emergency, When You Need Us Most:
At Alpers Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Scottsdale, we treat dental emergencies fast, with precision, empathy, and advanced technology. From chipped teeth to cosmetic repairs, we’re trusted by families, professionals, and everyday stars like you.
"Absolutely phenomenal emergency dental care. Dr. Alpers saved my smile and my trip! Late on a Friday evening, my front veneer suddenly broke - just days before I was scheduled to leave town for a business trip and a long-overdue vacation... Dr. Alpers went above and beyond to rescue my smile and save my trip. I am beyond grateful. And honestly, I can’t recommend him highly enough. Five stars aren’t enough!!!" - Nick D., patient, Google Review
Better Yet: Let’s Prevent the Emergency Altogether
Many of these celebrity disasters, from dental surgeries to cracked veneers, could have been avoided with routine checkups and preventive care.
Our team offers:
- 3D Intraoral Scanning
- Saliva Testing for Bacteria
- Night Guards for Grinding
- Laser Technology to Prevent Gum Disease
- Routine Cleanings and Exams
With regular visits, we help you catch issues before they turn into headline moments.
Don't Wait for a Spotlight Slip
Whether you're performing on stage, walking down the aisle, or just living your busy life, your smile deserves proactive protection and fast help when it counts.
Emergency care when you need it. Preventive care so you might not.
Contact Us To Schedule Your Appointment Today:
Image Credits
- Main/Hero Image: Taylor Swift in 2011. By Marcin Wichary, San Francisco, U.S.A., CC BY 2.0, via this source. Modified from the original; background removed and image edited for the design.
- Taylor Swift at the 2024 Golden Globes. By iHeartRadioCA, CC BY 3.0, via this link.
- Taylor Swift performing at Jimmy Kimmel Live. By Nicole Alexander, CC BY 3.0, via here.
- Tiger Woods in May 2019. By The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via source.
- President of the United States Joe Biden 2021. By The White House, CC BY 3.0 US, via this link.
- Hilary Duff in 2009. By David Shankbone from USA, CC BY 2.0, via here.
- Viggo Mortensen in 2020. By Joost Pauwels, CC0, via photo library.
- Daniel Craig in 2021. By The Royal Navy, OGL 3, via file.
- Michael Bublé on the red carpet at 2024 Gateway Celebrity Fight Night. By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via this page.
- Steven Tyler at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV. By Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via here.
- Jim Carrey in 2020. By SHOWTIME, CC BY 3.0, via here.
- Jennifer Lopez during an interview in 2019. By MTV UK, CC BY 3.0, via source.
All Creative Commons images are used, via Wikimedia Commons, in accordance with their respective licenses. Licensing links and original sources provided above.
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