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Smile Makeover

Digital Smile Design (DSD)

In the following, we would like to explain digital case planning by using a case to show all steps of the procedure.

It is an example of a full-mouth-therapy, which is mainly about a complete restoration of teeth. Another focus is to ensure the patient a beautiful and shiny white smile at the end of treatment.

Why Digital Smile Design when it comes to comprehensive dental restorations?

The answer is simple: By using standardized photographs and imprints, the program enables us to measure, capture, and harmonize axes, lengths, and proportions of the face, teeth and lips, which makes it possible to plan the entire treatment ahead without having to rely on impressions and estimates solely. Instead, in addition to our years of experience and our know-how, we can make use of exact dimensions, which makes it possible to monitor the whole treatment from the beginning to the end and to get an exact idea of the result during the planning phase and thus at the beginning of the restoration process.

Within the framework of the planning process, tooth proportions and positions, gingival contours and many other characteristics and details are compared and exactly positioned to each other. This approach is also called “backward-planning” – we start at the end, at the best possible outcome for the patient, and move forward step by step.

In this way, the patient can see the final result in his mouth (which is provisionally attached to the surface of the teeth) as well as on our pictures before any practical work is carried out. After that, we discuss possible change requests to definitively ensure the desired result before we start the treatment.

Step 1: Photo session

The digital planning process starts with a comprehensive dental anamnesis, a careful collection of findings and reports, and a precise diagnosis. Afterwards we take photos for the individual planning process (the photo studio is situated in our dental practice). The shooting follows certain specifications and rules, as the images must fulfill certain criteria in order to be measured digitally in the next step. The whole diagnosis process is carried out during the first session.

Step 2: Digital impression

To obtain a spatial idea and a more exact picture of the teeth, we complement the pictures by an imprint, which is made by the use of a modern dental scanner. The machine makes a scan of the teeth and enables imprint digitalization. If required, our dental technician can make a three-dimensional print of the scan and thus produce a physical model of the oral situation.

Step 3: Planning on the basis of the photographs

Based on the information provided by the photographs and the scan we can now start with the specific planning of the treatment. For this purpose we use an innovative and sophisticated software, which makes it not only possible to create an ideal image for every initial situation, but which is also taking the following and other important parameters into account:

  • Facial proportions
  • Centerlines and possible deviations
  • Tooth positions and malpositions
  • Tooth proportions
  • Gingival contours
  • Level of the visible gum

Step 4: Digital wax up (Modeling of new teeth)

Our dental technician can now start to create a digital wax up based on the previously defined ideal image. The dental laboratory is located next door, what simplifies the cooperation with our technician, who plays an important role during the whole planning process.

A digital wax up is a three-dimensional image and print of the teeth. Thus, we not only use pictures to bring the teeth into their ideal position, but also a three-dimensional design of the oral situation, which is made based on the measurements resulting from the planning process.

Step 5: Mock-up (Transfer of the new teeth into the mouth)

The three-dimensional model serves as starting point for a “live” demonstration of the new smile directly in the mouth. A special plastic material of high quality that has been developed specifically for this purpose is used to produce the temporary restoration, which, being stable for a few days, simulates the final result. The patient can wear the temporary restoration for a few days. Doing so, prior to the actual treatment, he can test and evaluate the new smile over a longer period of time (simulation of the result during the second session).

Step 6: Treatment and cementation

As soon as you are convinced of the final result, we start the minimal invasive treatment. Thanks to the new simulated smile we know exactly, in which areas which kind of intervention is necessary and where we have to remove a little bit of tooth substance. It is always our priority to remove as less tooth substance as possible and in many cases it is possible to completely avoid the removal of tooth substance. Sometimes we need to remove tooth enamel up to a maximum of 0,5 millimeters. The cementation of the veneers takes place one week after the treatment, after that you can enjoy and present your new smile.

More Before – After pictures

Get in touch

Do you have questions regarding Digital Smile Design?

We would be pleased to advise you and are looking forward to your request.

Zahnärzte am Stadtpark
Salesianergasse 4/3
1030 – Wien

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