Roman Reigns is one of the most recognisable faces in professional wrestling. As a multi-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion and the self-proclaimed Tribal Chief, he commands attention wherever he goes. But beyond the championship titles and the powerful in-ring presence, fans have been quietly talking about something else: Roman Reigns' teeth. Between his early career and his shocking 2020 heel turn, his smile changed dramatically - and the story behind that transformation involves far more than a simple cosmetic decision.
Table Of Contents
- Who Is Roman Reigns?
- Roman Reigns' Early Career Smile
- Leukemia and Its Impact on Dental Health
- The 2020 Transformation: Porcelain Veneers
- The Tribal Chief Look: How His Smile Fits the Character
- Fan Reactions and Media Discussion
- What Dental Procedures Might He Have Had?
- How to Achieve a Similar Smile
- Cost Comparison: UK vs Turkey
Who Is Roman Reigns?
Born Joe Anoa'i in 1985, Roman Reigns comes from one of wrestling's most famous families - the Anoa'i dynasty, which includes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a cousin. He played college football at Georgia Tech and had a brief NFL career before joining the WWE developmental system in 2010. Since then, he has become the company's top star, holding the WWE Universal Championship for a record-breaking run that lasted over 1,300 days.
Off-screen, Reigns is known for being private about his personal life, dedicated to his faith, and remarkably open about his ongoing battle with leukaemia. This last detail matters more than many fans realise when it comes to understanding his dental history.
Roman Reigns' Early Career Smile
Scroll back through Roman Reigns' early television appearances and you will notice that his smile looked quite different from what fans see today. During his Shield faction run (2012-2014), his teeth were natural in appearance: slightly uneven in shape, with a noticeable gap and minor discolouration in places. Nothing dramatic, but clearly un-treated.
What Did His Teeth Look Like in The Shield Days?
In his Shield days, Roman Reigns' teeth were authentically imperfect. A slightly crooked front tooth, modest gaps between certain teeth, and enamel that carried the warm, off-white shade you would expect from someone who had not undergone cosmetic treatment. Many fans at the time found this natural look relatable - it aligned with his grounded, blue-collar babyface character.
As he climbed the card and began appearing more frequently in main event segments and high-profile interviews, the contrast between his increasingly polished presentation and his un-altered teeth became something fans and wrestling media started to comment on. It was a topic that would eventually lead to significant change.
Leukemia and Its Impact on Dental Health
In October 2018, Roman Reigns stood in the centre of the ring and announced to the world that his leukaemia had returned. He had first been diagnosed with the disease in 2007 at just 22 years old. The announcement that it had come back hit hard, both for fans and for those in the wrestling industry.
What many viewers did not fully consider was how leukaemia and its treatment affects the body beyond the obvious. Chemotherapy, even in its oral form, carries a well-documented range of side effects on oral health. According to the British Dental Association, patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently experience dry mouth (xerostomia), oral mucositis, and accelerated enamel erosion - all of which can significantly worsen existing dental problems and create new ones over time.
Reigns confirmed in 2024 that he remains on oral chemotherapy and likely will be for the rest of his life. That context matters when looking at his teeth history. The gaps, discolouration, and alignment issues that fans observed in his pre-2020 appearances were not simply a matter of neglect - they may well have been compounded by years of chemotherapy treatment affecting his enamel, saliva production, and overall oral environment.
Dry mouth caused by cancer treatment reduces saliva's natural protective function, allowing bacteria to thrive and acids to attack the enamel more aggressively. Patients in this situation often see dental decay progress faster than in the general population. Addressing this proactively with restorative cosmetic work is common in oncology patients who want to maintain both function and aesthetics.
The 2020 Transformation: Porcelain Veneers
Roman Reigns returned to WWE television at SummerSlam 2020 in August, and fans immediately noticed something different - and it was not just the new villain persona. His smile had been completely transformed. Where once there had been gaps, crookedness, and natural imperfections, there was now a perfectly aligned, bright, uniform set of teeth that looked entirely camera-ready.
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown earlier that year had kept Roman Reigns off television for months - he had opted to sit out due to his immunocompromised condition. That period of absence gave him an extended window for recovery, reflection, and reportedly, dental treatment. When he returned, the change was impossible to miss.
What Exactly Changed? Before and After Breakdown
Looking at Roman Reigns' teeth before and after comparisons shared widely by fans and wrestling media, the differences are clear across several areas:
- Alignment: The slight crookedness in his front teeth was completely corrected, resulting in a symmetrical, even smile line.
- Gaps: The visible spacing between teeth in earlier appearances is gone. His teeth now sit close together with a natural-looking contact point.
- Shade: His teeth went from a natural, warm off-white to a bright but not artificially blinding white - a shade choice that reads well on camera without looking unnatural in person.
- Shape and Size: Each tooth appears more uniform in shape and proportional in size, consistent with veneer work where individual teeth are customised to create a cohesive smile line.
These changes are consistent with porcelain veneer treatment, where thin ceramic shells are bonded to the front surface of existing teeth to alter their colour, shape, size, and spacing in a single treatment course.
The Tribal Chief Look: How His Smile Fits the Character
The timing of Roman Reigns' dental transformation was not coincidental. His return to WWE in August 2020 marked one of the most significant character reinventions in wrestling history. Gone was the earnest babyface champion who had been booed out of arenas for years. In his place was the Tribal Chief - a cold, calculating villain who controlled his family through psychological manipulation and operated more like a crime boss than a pro wrestler.
The upgraded smile fit this new character in a way the old one never could have. The Tribal Chief's power comes partly from his presentation: the lei, the slow walk, the deliberate speech, and yes, that controlled, perfect smile. It signals dominance without effort. In clinical terms, a symmetrical smile with consistent tooth proportions reads as authority and confidence - which is precisely what the character is designed to project.
Wrestling analysts and fans quickly noted how the character's entire visual package came together. The old babyface Roman had natural, imperfect teeth that made him relatable. The new heel Roman had precision-engineered teeth that made him look untouchable. It was character design reinforced through aesthetic choice, whether intentional or not.
Fan Reactions and Media Discussion
The wrestling world reacted with a mixture of admiration and amusement. Fellow WWE superstar Randy Orton was among the first to comment publicly, taking to social media to joke about the dramatic overnight upgrade. The reaction illustrated how noticeable the change had been - if even your peers are commenting on camera, the transformation was significant.
Wrestling-focused media outlets including Wrestling Inc. covered the fan discussion at length, noting that many viewers found themselves genuinely curious about what procedure had been done. Some initially speculated about dental implants, though cosmetic dentists who weighed in publicly suggested veneers as the most likely explanation given the scope and uniformity of the change.
What stood out in the public reaction was that most fans responded positively. The transformation was well-executed - it looked natural for someone of his age and public profile rather than the unnervingly artificial smile that poorly done veneers can sometimes produce. That restraint in shade selection and tooth shape is a sign of quality cosmetic dental work.
What Dental Procedures Might He Have Had?
While Roman Reigns has never publicly confirmed the specific treatments he underwent, dental professionals commenting in various media have largely pointed toward porcelain veneers as the primary procedure. The evidence from before and after images supports this:
| Characteristic | Before 2020 | After 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Tooth alignment | Slight crookedness, natural variation | Uniform, symmetrical smile line |
| Tooth spacing | Visible gaps in places | Closed, natural contact points |
| Tooth colour | Off-white, warm natural shade | Bright white, consistent across all visible teeth |
| Tooth shape | Natural variation between teeth | Custom proportioned, even appearance |
Porcelain veneers, also known as laminate veneers, involve preparing the front surface of the tooth very slightly and bonding a custom-made ceramic shell over it. The procedure typically takes two to three appointments over the course of a few weeks, with the laboratory fabricating each veneer to the agreed specifications for colour, shape, and translucency.
According to the NHS, veneers are most commonly used to improve the appearance of teeth that are discoloured, worn, chipped, broken, misaligned, or have irregular shapes or gaps. All of these criteria applied to Roman Reigns' pre-2020 smile. The fact that his post-veneer teeth retain a degree of translucency at the tips - rather than looking like solid blocks of white - suggests high-quality, hand-layered porcelain rather than a rushed or budget approach.
He may also have had professional teeth whitening before veneer placement, or minor gum contouring to ensure his gum line sat evenly across his smile. These are standard adjunct treatments that often accompany a full veneer case. Professional cleaning and treatment for any decay related to his chemotherapy history would also be expected before cosmetic work began.
How to Achieve a Similar Smile
Roman Reigns' smile transformation is actually a very achievable goal for the right candidate. The combination of alignment correction, shade improvement, and shape refinement that his veneers delivered is exactly what a full Hollywood Smile or partial veneer treatment is designed to produce.
At DentPrime, our clinical team works with patients on a personalised basis before any treatment begins. A thorough assessment of your existing teeth, gum health, bite pattern, and the underlying dental environment - including any issues like enamel erosion related to medical treatment - is carried out first. This ensures that veneers are placed on a stable, healthy foundation that allows them to perform and look their best for the long term.
Patients who want a result similar to Roman Reigns' typically need:
- An initial consultation and X-ray review to assess suitability
- Any preparatory work such as cleaning, decay treatment, or gum stabilisation
- Digital smile design to agree on the exact shade, shape, and size before treatment starts
- Veneer preparation across the targeted teeth (usually upper arch at minimum)
- High-quality porcelain shell fabrication in a specialist laboratory
- Bonding and final adjustment appointment
The result is a permanent transformation that - when maintained with normal oral hygiene and regular check-ups - can last 10 to 15 years or more. For patients whose enamel has been affected by medical treatments, this kind of restorative cosmetic work can also provide a layer of protection to the underlying tooth structure.
Cost Comparison: UK vs Turkey
In the United Kingdom, a single porcelain veneer typically costs between £500 and £1,500 depending on the clinic and the material used. For a full smile transformation involving 10 to 16 veneers, patients are looking at a significant investment - often in the range of £8,000 to £20,000 or more at premium London practices.
This is one of the primary reasons why dental tourism to Turkey has grown so substantially over the past decade. At accredited clinics in Istanbul, patients can access the same materials - E.max porcelain, zirconia, high-quality composite - with dentists who have trained internationally, at a fraction of the cost. A full set of porcelain veneers in Turkey, including the consultation, preparatory work, and aftercare, typically costs significantly less than the equivalent in the UK.
DentPrime's treatment packages include accommodation assistance, airport transfers, and a dedicated patient coordinator who manages your entire journey from first enquiry to final appointment. Many of our patients from the UK, Germany, and Ireland have achieved results comparable to what Roman Reigns' smile now shows - without the price tag of a Harley Street clinic.
If you would like to understand what a smile design consultation at DentPrime might involve for your specific situation, get in touch and our team will be happy to discuss your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Roman Reigns really get veneers?
Roman Reigns has never publicly confirmed having veneers, but the before and after comparison of his teeth between 2019 and his August 2020 SummerSlam return is striking. Cosmetic dentists who have commented in wrestling and entertainment media largely agree that porcelain veneers are the most consistent explanation for the changes in alignment, colour, and shape visible in his smile.
Why did Roman Reigns' teeth look different before 2020?
Roman Reigns was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2007 and his illness returned in 2018. Chemotherapy - even oral chemotherapy, which he continues to take - is known to cause dry mouth, enamel erosion, and increased susceptibility to tooth decay. These medical factors likely contributed to the dental issues visible in his earlier career, alongside natural variation in tooth alignment and shape.
When did Roman Reigns get his teeth done?
The most visible change in Roman Reigns' teeth appeared at SummerSlam in August 2020, when he returned to WWE after sitting out during the COVID-19 pandemic due to his immunocompromised condition. The extended period away from television is widely believed to be when the dental work took place.
What type of dental procedure did Roman Reigns have?
Based on the visible changes - including corrected alignment, closed gaps, uniform shade, and consistent tooth shape - porcelain veneers are the most likely procedure. Veneers are thin ceramic shells bonded to the front of existing teeth and can address all the issues that were visible in his pre-2020 smile in a single treatment course.
How long do veneers like Roman Reigns' last?
High-quality porcelain veneers placed by an experienced cosmetic dentist typically last 10 to 15 years or longer with proper maintenance. Regular check-ups, non-abrasive toothpaste, and avoiding habits like biting hard objects or grinding teeth without a night guard all help extend their lifespan.
Can I get a smile like Roman Reigns' in Turkey?
Yes. The type of porcelain veneer treatment that most likely accounts for Roman Reigns' smile transformation is widely available at accredited dental clinics in Istanbul. The materials and technique used by experienced Turkish cosmetic dentists are comparable to top clinics in the UK or US, at considerably lower cost. DentPrime offers full consultation, digital smile planning, and high-quality porcelain veneers as part of comprehensive treatment packages.
Does Roman Reigns still have leukaemia?
Yes. Roman Reigns has been open about the fact that his leukaemia is incurable but manageable. As of 2024, he confirmed he remains on oral chemotherapy and likely will be for the rest of his life. His case is a reminder that cosmetic dental treatment can play an important role in the overall wellbeing of patients dealing with long-term medical conditions that affect oral health.
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