Smile design allows to plan a beautiful and natural smile, not fake, before starting the treatment. This way the patient can try the smile in his or her mouth and even be a part of the process and weigh the investment in time and money.
Years ago it was impossible to make a smile design because the technology did not exist, now it is possible to make a design change at any time and under any circumstances. Nowadays, this technological evolution allows us to make a smile design in 3D, and in our clinic we are specialists in DSD (Digital Smile Design) through interdisciplinary treatments.
It should be noted that a good smile design should not only contemplate the teeth, color, size, position and shape of these, but is a concept that goes beyond and encompasses the frame of the lips, gums, confidence when smiling, the shape and color of the complexion of the face. In other words, it encompasses the patient’s personality among other parameters. For these reasons, 3D smile design is a fantastic tool, as it provides a smile in complete harmony with the patient’s face and personality in just a few appointments.
When is it recommended?
Smile design is always convenient, because it allows you to make mistakes with the computer, but not with the patient. In other words, the patient is operated on twice, once on the computer and once when we perform the surgery; this process eliminates risks and is much more predictable.
In fact, scans (of the first steps of the process) should always be performed, as they allow many errors to be corrected a posteriori and to be more accurate.
What types are there?
It can be done in practically all patients, but almost all clinics implement DSD in multidisciplinary treatments or when the patient requires esthetic or orthodontic treatment.
Once the smile design is done and having evaluated all the possibilities of the patient, with a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan, different systems are carried out depending on the case. For example, you may only need veneers or a complex treatment involving orthodontics, implants, veneers or crowns, complete oral rehabilitation.
What is the procedure?
Dental specialists follow a protocol divided into several phases:
- First appointment: we assess the patient and make a preliminary diagnosis. We take records with a 3D scanner, make radiographs, photos and a video. Currently, we are using the iTero, an intraoral scanner, more frequently.
- Interdisciplinary clinical session: with all the material collected, the whole team of specialists in the clinic meets to decide the best possible diagnosis for the patient and what treatment is ideal.
In this sense, we have software to digitally recreate this treatment, which is then sent to the planning center.
- DSD Planning Center: the center sends the smile design back to us and we approve it. Subsequently, we print the design as a shell, which are like micro-faces (they are not definitive), so that the patient can evaluate the smile, comfort and other parameters to be assessed.
This is an important component because emotional dentistry is involved here, that is, the patient can see and try on the smile before starting the treatment.
- Second appointment: the patient tries the design and accepts if he/she is satisfied. From here we start the treatment.
How long does the treatment take?
The treatment can be done in one appointment, in a comfortable way. This is the case for those patients who have a good occlusion or no missing teeth. Likewise, if veneers, veneers, crowns… are necessary, we talk to our ceramists beforehand and we can carry out a quick rehabilitation.
If the patient needs orthodontics or implants, obviously, it will not be an appointment only. In this case, we will have to spend more time.
Is it necessary to follow up afterwards?
Yes, it is essential to make a medium and long term maintenance.
In addition, we have a prevention department that follows up and continues with periodic check-ups of the patients. So it allows the patient to have a long lasting rehabilitation and good dental health.