What happens at a digital smile design consultation
Photographs, video, a 3D scan and a trial smile you can wear home. A step-by-step look at how we plan cosmetic cases before any treatment.
Most people imagine cosmetic dentistry starting in the dental chair. At Lumière it starts with a conversation, a camera and a surprising amount of listening. A digital smile design consultation is how we make sure the smile we create is one you actually want, before a single tooth is touched.
Why we design before we treat
Veneers and crowns are custom objects, and small decisions change everything. Half a millimeter of length can make a smile look youthful or artificial. The curve of the front teeth should follow your lower lip when you smile. The two central incisors should suit the width of your face. These are not details you can judge from a model on a desk. They depend on you, moving and speaking.
Step one: the conversation
We begin by asking what you would change and, just as importantly, what you would keep. Some patients love a small gap or a slightly crooked tooth that gives their smile character. Others bring photographs from ten years ago and ask to look like themselves again. We write these goals down and refer to them at every stage.
Step two: photography and video
Next we take a series of full-face and close-up photographs under daylight-balanced light, along with a short video of you talking, laughing and saying a few specific words. The video tells us how much tooth shows at rest, how your lips move and how the edges of your teeth interact with speech. Sounds like F and V are especially revealing.
- Full-face portraits, smiling and at rest.
- Close-up retracted views of the teeth and gums.
- A short video of natural conversation and laughter.
- Shade photographs with reference tabs.
Step three: the 3D scan
A handheld intraoral scanner captures a precise digital model of your teeth and bite in about five minutes, with no putty impressions. We merge this scan with your photographs so that the proposed design is built around your actual face, not a generic template.
Step four: the digital preview
About a week later, we meet again to review the design on screen. You will see the proposed tooth shapes laid over your own photographs, along with the reasoning behind each choice. This is the moment for honest feedback. Longer, shorter, softer, whiter, less white: every change is easy at this stage.
The trial smile is where patients stop imagining and start deciding. Wearing it at home changes the conversation completely.
Step five: the trial smile
Once the digital design feels right, we convert it into a trial smile: a thin, tooth-colored overlay placed temporarily over your existing teeth. You can wear it home, see it in your own mirror and show it to people whose opinions you trust. If something feels off, we adjust the design and try again. Only when you are genuinely happy do we move to preparation and final porcelain.
What to bring
- Photographs of your smile from years past, if you have favorites.
- A list of questions, including any worries about comfort or cost.
- Your insurance details, in case any part of treatment is restorative.
- An open mind: sometimes the best plan is simpler than expected.
How long it takes and what it costs
The initial consultation takes about 60 minutes and the preview visit about 45. At the time of writing, the consultation is offered as a sample complimentary visit and is credited toward treatment if you proceed within 90 days. There is never an obligation to continue.
This article is for general information and is not dental advice. Every smile is different, and outcomes vary from patient to patient.
