If you spent any part of the last decade swooning over Finnick Odair, you probably remember the teeth. They weren’t the standard, blindingly white "Hollywood smile" we see on every other Marvel actor. Sam Claflin had these slightly sharp, incredibly charming canines that gave him a bit of a rugged, boyish edge. It was part of the brand. But lately, if you’ve been watching him in projects like Daisy Jones & The Six or his recent red carpet appearances for Lazarus, things look... different.
The internet has been spiraling. Fans on Reddit and TikTok have been dissecting Sam Claflin before and after veneers photos like they’re analyzing cold case evidence. It’s one of those subtle shifts that changes an entire face. One minute he has those distinctive "fangs," and the next, he’s rocking a perfectly uniform, straight-across-the-bottom row of pearly whites. It’s basically the erasure of a signature trait, and honestly, people have feelings about it.
The Finnick Era: Character in the Imperfection
Back in 2013, when The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hit theaters, Sam Claflin was the blueprint for the "pretty boy with a bite." His natural teeth were a huge part of that. They weren't "bad" by any stretch—they were just real. He had those slightly more prominent canine teeth that added character to his grin.
You’ve probably noticed that in Hollywood, "character" is often the first thing to go when a star hits a certain level of fame. There’s this weird pressure to look like a CGI version of yourself. For Sam, those natural teeth worked for a character like Finnick Odair, who was supposed to be this lethal but beautiful Capitol darling. The teeth felt "siren-esque."
But fast forward to his more recent roles. When he showed up as Billy Dunne in Daisy Jones & The Six, some fans started pointing out that his mouth looked different. His speech seemed a tiny bit altered—something that often happens when people get a new set of "uxtas" or thick porcelain veneers. The sharp edges were gone. The smile was wider, flatter, and much whiter.
What Actually Changed?
While Sam hasn’t exactly sat down for a Vogue "73 Questions" to talk about his dental records, the visual evidence is pretty loud.
Cosmetic dentists who analyze celebrity smiles—think of the folks on YouTube who spend all day looking at "Turkey Teeth"—have pointed out a few specific markers of his transformation:
- Canine Bluntness: The most obvious change. Those pointed canines have been leveled out. This is a classic move in a veneer "smile makeover" to create a more symmetrical, "masculine" (in traditional dental terms) look.
- The "Keyboard" Effect: His teeth now appear much more uniform in length. Natural teeth have varied heights—the two front teeth are usually a bit longer than the laterals. His new set is very straight across, which is a hallmark of porcelain veneers.
- Color Saturation: Natural teeth have translucency at the edges. Veneers, especially if they aren't done with high-end layering, can look a bit "opaque." Sam’s new smile definitely leans into that high-wattage brightness.
It’s a bit of a bummer for fans who liked the "imperfections." There’s a whole movement on social media now mourning the "loss of the British tooth." From Tom Hardy to Sam Claflin, there’s a trend of UK actors trading in their unique, slightly quirky smiles for the standard-issue American dental aesthetic.
Why Do Actors Do It?
Honestly, it’s kinda easy to see why. HD cameras are brutal. When you're filming in 4K or 8K, every tiny chip or slightly yellow tint is magnified.
In Daisy Jones, Sam had to play a rock star across multiple decades. While some viewers complained he looked "too old" for the early 70s scenes, a bright, "perfect" smile can actually be a tool for looking more "polished" on screen.
However, there’s a downside. Some critics argued that his new teeth felt "too modern" for a 1970s period piece. It’s that "uncanny valley" feeling where everything is covered in grit and 70s haze, but then the lead actor opens his mouth and reveals 2026-level dental technology. It breaks the immersion for some.
The Verdict on the "New" Sam
Is he still incredibly handsome? Obviously. It's Sam Claflin. But the Sam Claflin before and after veneers debate highlights a bigger conversation about beauty standards in the mid-2020s. We’re seeing a bit of a "veneer fatigue" where audiences are starting to crave the "human" look again. You see it with stars like Barry Keoghan or Mike Faist, who have kept their natural teeth and are celebrated for it.
Sam’s new look is classic Hollywood. It’s safe. It’s symmetrical. But it’s definitely a departure from the "English rose" (well, English thorn?) look that made us fall in love with him in the first place.
What to Look for If You’re Considering a Similar Change
If you're looking at Sam’s transformation and thinking about your own "smile makeover," there are a few things to keep in mind so you don't end up with the "horse tooth" look:
- Request "Natural" Canines: Tell your dentist you want to keep some of the natural pointedness of your canines. It keeps the smile looking aggressive and "real" rather than like a set of dentures.
- Vary the Length: Ask for the lateral incisors (the ones next to your big front teeth) to be slightly shorter. This creates a more youthful, natural "smile arc."
- Translucency is Key: High-quality porcelain should have "incisal translucency." That means the very bottom of the tooth is slightly see-through, just like real enamel.
- Don't Go Too White: Bleach Shade 1 (BL1) looks great on a poster but can look like glowing Chiclets in real life. Most experts recommend a shade that matches the whites of your eyes for a natural look.
Basically, Sam’s transition shows that even the most beautiful people in the world feel the need to "tweak" things. Whether you prefer the sharp-toothed Finnick or the polished Billy Dunne, the man’s talent—and that jawline—isn't going anywhere.
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If you're curious about how other stars are handling the "perfect teeth" trend, you might want to look into the "natural veneer" movement where actors are actually asking for slight "imperfections" to be built back into their expensive new smiles.