You remember him. The scruffy, slightly disheveled guy who popped up in every commercial break around 2014, staring intensely at you while explaining how to find the ideal hotel price. Tim Williams, the actor famously known as the "Trivago Guy," became an overnight sensation, but not necessarily for his acting chops. People were obsessed with his look. He didn't wear a belt. He looked like he hadn't slept in three days. And, quite famously, his smile wasn't exactly Hollywood standard.
Then, things changed.
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The internet started buzzing when Williams reappeared in later ad campaigns looking... different. The stubble was groomed. The clothes fit better. But the most jarring shift was the trivago guy teeth before and after contrast that suggested a significant cosmetic overhaul. It wasn't just a cleaning; it was a total brand pivot.
Why Everyone Obsessed Over Tim Williams' Smile
When Tim Williams first hit the screen, he was the antithesis of the polished corporate spokesperson. That was the point. Trivago wanted someone relatable. He looked like a guy you'd meet at a hostel bar in Berlin—which makes sense, considering Williams had been living and working in Germany for years as a musician and actor.
His original smile was "real." It featured natural staining and some misalignment that you'd expect from a middle-aged guy who wasn't a movie star. However, the American audience has a weird relationship with teeth. We are obsessed with "piano key" perfection. Because Williams was on screen so much, viewers began to hyper-fixate on his dental aesthetics. Social media was ruthless. Memes about his hygiene and his lack of a belt went viral.
It's a strange phenomenon where a person's physical appearance becomes a distraction from the product they're selling. Trivago noticed.
The Mid-Campaign Makeover
Somewhere around 2014 and 2015, the "hobo-chic" look was dialed back. The company actually held a contest to give him a makeover. They invited viewers to vote on new outfits. But the unofficial part of that makeover—the part they didn't hold a public vote for—was the dental work.
If you look at the trivago guy teeth before and after shots from that era, the transition is undeniable. The later commercials featured a smile that was several shades whiter and significantly more uniform. This wasn't just the result of a few whitening strips. We are talking about the kind of structural change that usually involves veneers or high-end crowns.
His teeth went from being a "character trait" to a "commercial asset."
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What the Before and After Photos Reveal
Looking closely at the footage, the "before" phase showed teeth that had natural wear. There was some crowding on the bottom row and a yellowish tint that looked natural for a coffee drinker or a smoker. It gave him an approachable, "everyman" vibe.
The "after" is a different story.
The new teeth were perfectly aligned. The incisors were lengthened. That "grayish" or "yellowish" hue was replaced with a bright, consistent white. In dental terms, this is often achieved through porcelain veneers—thin shells of ceramic bonded to the front of the teeth. It’s the standard "Hollywood Smile" package.
- Color: Jumped from maybe an A3 on the dental shade guide to a BL2 or BL1 (bleached shades).
- Alignment: The minor overlaps were gone.
- Symmetry: The midline of his smile appeared more centered and balanced with his facial features.
Did it help his career? Well, he stayed the face of the brand for years. But some fans argued he lost his "edge." He went from being a unique personality to looking like every other guy selling insurance or pharmaceuticals.
The Psychology of the Celebrity Dental Overhaul
Why do celebrities like Tim Williams feel the need to do this? It's often called "The Zoom Effect" or "High-Definition Pressure." As TV resolutions got better, imperfections became impossible to hide. When you’re projected in 4K onto a 65-inch screen in someone’s living room, a slightly crooked tooth can look like a major deformity to a cynical viewer.
Williams himself addressed the makeover in various interviews, though he often focused more on the clothes and the grooming than the specific dental procedures. He told The Guardian and other outlets that the "scruffy" look was a deliberate choice by the German directors who wanted something "organic." But the American market reacted differently. To an American audience, scruffy sometimes translates to "untrustworthy" or "unsuccessful."
Trivago is a tech company. They sell efficiency. They eventually decided that their spokesperson needed to look as efficient as their algorithm.
Is This a Trend Beyond Trivago?
Absolutely. Williams is just one example in a long line of "commercial celebrities" who underwent the dental knife. Think about Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, or even Cristiano Ronaldo. Their early career smiles were drastically different from their current ones.
The trivago guy teeth before and after saga is a case study in brand management. It shows that even when a "real" look is what makes you famous, the pressure to conform to beauty standards is almost inescapable once the big checks start clearing.
Interestingly, Williams’ "new" look didn't stop the parodies. If anything, it changed the flavor of the jokes. He went from being "the guy who needs a shower" to "the guy who’s trying a bit too hard to look like a silver fox."
The Costs Involved in a Smile Like That
If you’re looking at Tim Williams and thinking about doing the same, you should know it’s not a cheap or quick fix. A full set of porcelain veneers in the United States or Europe can easily run between $10,000 and $40,000, depending on the number of teeth involved and the prestige of the cosmetic dentist.
- Consultation and Imaging: This usually involves 3D scans.
- Preparation: A small amount of enamel is shaved off (this is permanent).
- Temporaries: You wear plastic teeth while the lab makes the porcelain ones.
- Bonding: The final shells are glued on.
It’s an invasive process. Once you shave that enamel, there’s no going back to your "before" teeth. You are committed to the veneer life forever.
The Backlash to "Perfect" Teeth
Interestingly, by 2026, we’ve seen a slight shift back toward "character teeth." Models and actors are increasingly keeping their natural gaps or slight misalignments. The "uncanny valley" effect of perfectly white, perfectly straight teeth can sometimes make a person look robotic or untrustworthy.
Williams’ transformation happened at the peak of the "perfect teeth" era. Today, a brand might choose to keep the "before" look to maintain "authenticity" and "organic reach."
Lessons from the Trivago Transformation
What can we actually learn from this? First, public perception is a beast. Tim Williams was a successful actor and musician long before he became a meme, but his teeth became a talking point because they didn't fit the narrow definition of "TV ready."
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Second, your "imperfections" are often what make you memorable. Williams became the Trivago Guy because he didn't look like a Ken doll. While the dental work probably made him feel more confident and perhaps more "professional" in the eyes of corporate execs, he was already a star without it.
If you’re considering a similar change, think about your "personal brand." Is your unique smile part of your charm? Or is it genuinely holding you back? In the case of the Trivago Guy, the change was part of a broader corporate strategy to polish the brand’s image for a global audience.
What to do if you want the "After" look
If you’re eyeing a trivago guy teeth before and after result for yourself, start small.
- Professional Whitening: This can often bridge the gap without the $20k price tag.
- Invisalign: Clear aligners can fix the "before" crowding issues while keeping your natural teeth intact.
- Bonding: A less expensive, less permanent version of veneers that can fix chips or small gaps.
Always consult with a reputable cosmetic dentist who prioritizes "natural" looks over "refrigerator white." You want people to notice your smile, not your dental work.
Tim Williams is still out there, doing his thing, looking sharp. The belt is on, the hair is styled, and the teeth are bright. Whether he was "better" before or after is a matter of opinion, but one thing is certain: he remains one of the most recognizable faces in the history of travel advertising, regardless of his dental shade.
To achieve a similar transformation without the "fake" look, prioritize "translucency" in dental materials. Porcelain reflects light more like natural enamel than cheaper composite materials do. If you do go the veneer route, ask your dentist for a "softened" look—rounded edges on the lateral incisors and a shade that matches the whites of your eyes rather than a piece of printer paper. This ensures you look like a better version of yourself, rather than a different person entirely.