He is the captain of the New York Yankees. He stands 6-foot-7. He hits 450-foot home runs like they’re casual fly balls. But for a long time, the most recognizable thing about Aaron Judge wasn't actually his power. It was his smile. Specifically, the gap.
For years, that diastema—the technical term for the space between his two front teeth—was a badge of honor for Yankees fans. It made him look approachable. Human. Kind of like a giant kid who just happened to be the best baseball player on the planet. Then, suddenly, it was gone.
If you’re looking for the Aaron Judge teeth before and after timeline, it’s not just about vanity. It’s actually a saga involving flying helmets, a 2021 Zoom call that broke the internet, and the quiet disappearance of a physical trademark.
The 2017 Helmet Incident: When Things Got Real
Before we talk about the "after," we have to talk about the "oops."
Back in July 2017, the Yankees were celebrating a walk-off home run by Brett Gardner. It was pure chaos at home plate. In the middle of the jumping and screaming, Gardner tossed his helmet into the air.
Most people don't realize how heavy a batting helmet actually is. It came down and smoked Judge right in the face.
He didn't make a scene. He actually tried to sneak off the field so no one would notice he was hurt. But when you're nearly seven feet tall, hiding is hard. He had literally chipped half of his front left tooth off.
The Quick Fix
Honestly, he was back in the lineup the very next day. He’d visited a dentist that morning for a temporary fix. "I'm all good," he told reporters while giving a thumbs-up and keeping his mouth mostly closed.
For the next few seasons, Judge kept the look. He had the gap, and he had a repaired chip that most fans couldn't even spot unless the camera was zoomed way in. He seemed totally fine with the "authentic" look.
The 2021 Reveal: Where Did the Gap Go?
The real "after" moment didn't happen on the field. It happened on a screen.
In February 2021, during Spring Training, Judge hopped on a Zoom call to chat with the media. He started talking about his swing and his health. But the beat writers weren't looking at his stats. They were staring at his mouth.
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The gap was gone.
His teeth were perfectly aligned. They were brighter. They were... symmetrical.
Social media, specifically Yankees Twitter, went into a total meltdown. People were debating whether he’d lost his "power" along with the gap. Some fans were genuinely sad. It felt like he’d traded a bit of his personality for a Hollywood makeover.
How Did He Do It? (Veneers vs. Braces)
Judge never released a press statement about his dental work. He’s a private guy. But you don't need to be a dentist to figure out the likely culprit.
If you look at the Aaron Judge teeth before and after photos, the change happened over a single offseason. That rules out traditional braces. Even Invisalign usually takes longer than a few months to close a gap that wide.
Most dental experts, like those at Reider Family Dentistry, point toward porcelain veneers.
Why Veneers?
- Speed: You can get a brand-new smile in two or three visits.
- Durability: High-quality porcelain can handle the "wear and tear" of a professional athlete’s life (though you still don't want to get hit with another helmet).
- Color: They offer that "pearly white" look that won't stain or fade.
Basically, the dentist likely shaved down a tiny bit of the original tooth and bonded a thin shell of porcelain over it. They would have made the two front teeth slightly wider to bridge the gap completely.
Does the New Smile Matter for the Game?
Look, baseball is a game of superstitions.
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When Michael Strahan famously closed the gap in his teeth (briefly, as a prank) or when other athletes change their look, fans worry about the "curse."
But since the "New Teeth Era" began in 2021, Judge hasn't exactly struggled.
- In 2022, he broke the American League home run record with 62.
- He signed a massive $360 million contract.
- He became the first Yankees Captain since Derek Jeter.
If anything, the dental work coincided with him becoming a global brand. When you’re doing commercials for Ralph Lauren and Prime, having a "camera-ready" smile is basically part of the job description.
Understanding the "Before" Appeal
Why were people so obsessed with the gap?
It's a psychological thing. We like our heroes to have "flaws." It makes them relatable. When Judge had the gap, he looked like a guy you could grab a beer with at a dive bar in the Bronx.
Now, he looks like a corporate titan. He looks like a guy who owns the bar.
There's nothing wrong with either version. It's just a shift in how we perceive him. The "before" was the rookie phenom. The "after" is the franchise cornerstone.
Practical Takeaways for Your Own Smile
If you're looking at Judge and thinking about your own gap, here's the reality:
- Veneers aren't for everyone. They require permanent alteration of your natural teeth. If you have healthy teeth and just want to close a gap, Invisalign might be a better (though slower) path.
- Budget matters. Top-tier cosmetic dentistry like Judge’s can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 per tooth.
- Function over fashion. Judge had to fix that chipped tooth from 2017 eventually. If you have structural damage, cosmetic work isn't just about vanity—it's about oral health.
Whether you miss the gap or love the new look, one thing is certain: as long as he’s hitting 50 homers a year, Yankees fans won't care what his teeth look like. They just want to see him smiling with a World Series trophy.
The best way to track this yourself is to look at his rookie cards versus his current "Topps" releases. The difference is night and day. If you're considering a similar change, start by consulting a cosmetic dentist to see if your bite can actually support veneers without them popping off during high-intensity activity.