Landing a brand new songwriting deal with Sony and expecting a debut album out early next year, Elliott Yamin sure has a lot to smile about these days. Thats why the $50,000 worth of porcelain veneers and other dental work hes just received couldnt come at a better time. PEOPLE Magazine covers the story in their issue due out Friday, December 8th.

After hiding his teeth from the public eye for years, Elliott is thrilled to be able to grin widely now. As he dishes to PEOPLE, I used to look at old pictures of myself, and I figured out how to kind of smile without displaying all my teeth. While others, including fellow American Idol contestant, Ace Young, urged him to get the procedure done, Elliott admits to PEOPLE that The bottom line was, I was long overdue for a dentist appointment. His big worry, as he explained to the magazine, was that he would turn into a superficial Hollywood type. Pretty-looking teeth aside, there are added benefits to the dental work that Elliott received. As his dentist, Dr. David Frey, explained to PEOPLE, It is going to help muscle function, it is going to increase volume [of his voice] maybe. He adds that he could even become a better singer."

Elliotts model girlfriend, Jaime Paetz, whom he met since being on American Idol, is thrilled that he is now able to be proud of his grin. She told PEOPLE, I liked his old teeth, but if [the veneers] make him happy, then Im happy. And happy, he is. While ultimately losing American Idol, Elliott tells PEOPLE, I feel like I am the winner.