Tara Reid, 48, has undergone a smile makeover, and the transformation has left her feeling “like a whole different person.” The actress, who had been wanting the procedure for years, recently spoke to Us Weekly about the experience and how it’s boosted her confidence.
Reid recalled an incident from her childhood that initially affected her smile. “When I was younger as a kid, I lived in New Jersey, and my parents had a boat in the marina. We had this gym there, and I used to work out all the time,” she shared. At around 12 years old, she placed a metal plate from one of the gym machines over her face as a prank suggested by a boy, which led to a “bad” accident.
Over the years, Reid tried various solutions, including veneers, but they never fit properly. “They never looked right and they made me insecure a lot,” she explained. However, with the help of Dr. Charles Glaser of Apa Aesthetic Los Angeles, Reid finally found the right treatment. She received 10 hand-layered porcelain veneers on her upper and lower teeth, improving jaw function and correcting misalignment while enhancing her smile and oral health.
Reid expressed her excitement about the results, telling Us Weekly, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile, so I feel great. I feel younger. I feel better.” She emphasized that the decision to get the procedure done later in life was the right one, noting, “It fell [into] the right hands when I connected with Apa Aesthetic.”
Reflecting on the power of her new smile, Reid said, “At the end of the day, I think the most powerful thing you could possibly do is smile. When I see someone smile, it makes me glow.” She praised Dr. Glaser and his team, saying, “I’m still having the best experience with them. … They care. They’re just amazing people.”
The actress noticed an immediate boost in her confidence. “Last night, it was my friend’s birthday, so I went out to see them. Everyone — they didn’t know I got my teeth done — and they’re like, ‘Tara, you look so good. Did you do something?’” she recounted. “I’m like, ‘I got my teeth done!’ and everyone goes, ‘Wow!’ … Not one person I was around didn’t notice, and it made me feel special. … I can’t stop smiling. I’m really happy.”
Reid explained how this new energy has transformed her outlook. “You have no idea what a smile can make you feel like. … That’s kind of my personality, and now I feel like I could take it out even more, which is fun.” She emphasized that her decision was entirely for herself. “If you’re not satisfied with the way you look, it doesn’t matter what anyone else sees. You have to be satisfied [with] yourself, and that’s what gives you confidence.”
Post-makeover, Reid plans to focus more on acting, including a project centered on mental health. “I take all the serious situations in my life … [and] kind of keep [it] in storage. When I tap into it … I can pull it out completely,” she explained, adding that acting is her outlet for processing emotions and experiences.
While Reid acknowledges the toll insecurities and criticism can take on mental health, she noted that she didn’t turn to anyone specific for advice before regaining her confidence. “Sometimes you don’t really want to lean on the person because you don’t really know where they’re going,” she shared. “You can’t trust everyone, but to be honest with you, I have fun conversations with my dogs, Beso and Bella. … My dogs are the best.”
Despite the challenges, she’s grateful for a few close friends in the industry. “I would say Rachel Leigh Cook. She’s an awesome friend to me,” she said, adding, “And Rosario Dawson. Like, everyone from Josie and the Pussycats. We always stayed really tight.”