What is Digital Smile Design?

Digital Smile Design is a system of visualizing the ideal smile, planning and transferring the virtual aesthetic concept to the patient’s mouth.

How does Digital Smile Design work?

Photographs, x-rays and models of the patient’s teeth are used to create a 2D design of the ideal smile. This is then made into a 3D prototype which is 3D printed. The resulting 3D model will be transferred into the patient’s mouth over the existing teeth to be evaluated by both dentist and patient. This is known as a trial smile.

If the smile design needs to be modified, then changes can be made to the prototype at this stage. The process of transferring and evaluating the smile design is repeated.

If the smile design has been approved, then the prototype will be used as a blueprint for the final treatment.nsferring the virtual aesthetic concept to the patient’s mouth.

Who is suitable for Digital Smile Design?

Digital Smile Design is suitable for anyone planning major changes to their smile. It can be used to guide orthodontics (braces), implant restorations for the front teeth and even dentures.

How much does Digital Smile Design cost?

Digital Smile Design fees cover the evaluation, records, 3D printed model and trial smile.

Additional designs may be charged separately, if there are major changes required.

The fees for Digital Smile Design do not include treatment fees.

Does Digital Smile Design hurt?

Digital Smile Design is painless!

There is no trimming of your natural teeth, so no injections of local anaesthetic are needed.

You will need moulds and x-rays of your teeth taken and these may be uncomfortable for some patients.

Is cosmetic dentistry helpful in smile design?

Digital Smile Design allows cosmetic dentistry to be carried out in a more precise and predictable way.

Digital Smile Design is useful in all areas of dentistry, from orthodontics (braces), implants, gum recontouring, dentures to crowns and veneers.

What is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover is the process of improving the appearance of your smile through a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary combination of one or more aesthetic dental procedures, such as : dental veneers or crowns, dental implants, Invisalign/orthodontic treatment, gum contouring and/or teeth whitening etc.

Digital Smile Design is an invaluable tool to visualize your dream smile and to plan the procedures required to achieve it.

How long does a smile makeover take?

It depends on the case.

Some patients require multidisciplinary treatment (combining different types of dentistry, for example orthodontics and implants) that can take some time to complete before moving on to the prosthetic phase.

For simple cases, it could be as little as a few weeks to months. Complex cases may take a few years.

Why should Digital Smile Design be used for smile makeovers?

Digital Smile Design ensures a more predictable result. Especially for major changes like that seen in a smile makeover, having the final result planned out before even starting ensures that you, your dentist, and the dental lab are all on the same page regarding the aesthetic vision for the case.

This reduces unpleasant surprises when it comes to the final results that may be almost impossible to correct at that stage.

Since the procedures will be planned based on the smile design, this will minimize unnecessary procedures and preserve tooth structure. This also saves time because the number of redos will be drastically reduced.