Grandad splashes out £6,000 to fix 'toenail teeth' after REFUSING to smile for 50 years

A grandad who was so ashamed of his 'toenail teeth' that he refused to smile in pictures for more than 50 years said he now has his 'life back' after paying £6,000 to get them fixed.

Robert Moore, from Radcliffe, suffered with rotten teeth from the age of 12 and spent the next half a century hiding half smiles behind his hand or remaining po-faced in front of the camera. The 64-year-old's teeth became a 'mangled mess' after years of poor dental hygiene, a fear of the dentist and smoking took their toll.

The dad-of-two admitted he lost more teeth than he managed to hold onto and was so embarrassed he would 'scurry' down supermarket aisles to avoid seeing people he knew. Robert thought nothing could be done to help, but a chance encounter with a dental lab boss at the gym gave him hope.

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While in the sauna, Robert discovered new pal Peter Higgins was a dental technician and shared his teeth woes. After spending half an hour peering into his mouth, Peter said Robert's gnashers weren't a lost cause and they could arrange a smile makeover.

Robert splashed out £6,000 on a mixture of bespoke bridges and crowns and is now the proud owner of a sparkling new smile. He was so pleased with his new teeth, he cried when he first looked in the mirror.

Now the grandad is urging anyone who fears their teeth are beyond help to speak to a specialist as the results can be 'life-changing'. Robert said: "My teeth have always been horrendous, from the age of 12 or 13.

"My front teeth were always crossed. I had very poor fillings at the top of my teeth - they