Earlier this week, UK influencer Molly-Mae Hague posted a video to YouTube documenting her journey to a more natural look. After dissolving her lip and jaw fillers last year, and having recently ditched her waist length hair extensions, she is now working on unearthing her natural smile.
The Love Island star decided to remove the composite bonding - a procedure that involves bonding a resin material to existing teeth to reshape them or improve their colour - from her teeth after two years.
The 21-year-old explained that, at such a young age, she didn't want to have such drastic changes made to her smile, especially as she had such a healthy set of teeth to begin with.
Throughout the video series, Hague has advised her young followers to "listen to their mothers" and avoid rushing into cosmetic work. She also revealed that she should have done her homework before getting some of the procedures, and ultimately wishes she had appreciated her natural looks to begin with.
In response to her most recent video, Dublin dentist Ed O'Flaherty says that Hauge was brave to admit that she went "too far" with cosmetic enhancements after her appearance on Love Island and shared some advice to those who may want to follow in her footsteps.
"Composite veneers are usually easy to remove, without damaging teeth, and are generally replaced every five years or so anyway, unlike the more permanent porcelain ones", he explains.
However, the important point is that any cosmetic dental procedure should not be undertaken as a fashion accessory or celebrity trend, the Seapoint Clinic founder insists. He went on to say that Molly-Mae appears to have great natural teeth that did not need enhancement:
"Our patients will choose veneers or dental implants to fix issues from broken or discoloured teeth to crooked, misplaced teeth that affect bite."
"When we are self-conscious about our teeth, it can seriously affect normal work and social engagement and knocks our confidence. By all means, aim to look and feel your best, but, as this young influencer warns, a natural look is generally best."
