A digital smile design consultation gives you a clearer understanding of what cosmetic dental treatment could look like before any permanent work begins.

Many Canadians considering veneers or Invisalign have a clear sense of what bothers them about their smile but far less certainty about the process, the timeline, or whether the final result will feel natural on their face.

The Digital Smile Design consultation process at Somerset Dental on James takes place over two appointments. Each one serves a distinct purpose.

Appointment One: Records, Imaging & Smile Analysis

The first digital smile design consultation appointment is centred around collecting detailed diagnosis records.

This visit includes:

  • A 3D digital scan of your teeth
  • Clinical photographs
  • Video recordings
  • A CBCT scan (cone beam CT imaging)

Together, these records create a detailed picture of how your gums, teeth, jaw, lips, and facial features work together, both at rest and in motion.

The video component during this visit is especially important because smiles are dynamic. Teeth can look very different while you’re speaking, laughing, or smiling naturally compared to a still image. Recording facial movement helps us account for those subtle changes when planning your smile makeover.

The CBCT scan adds another layer of information by showing the underlying bone structure, tooth roots, airway, and jaw relationships. That allows us to consider function and biology alongside aesthetics right from the very beginning.

After the first appointment, the records are reviewed through a collaborative planning centre that draws on input from a network of dentists and specialists. The planning process is facially driven, meaning your proposed smile is designed around your actual facial proportions and movement patterns rather than a generic ideal.

Why the Planning Stage Takes Time

Patients sometimes expect cosmetic dentistry to be planned and completed quickly, especially after seeing so many smile transformations online. In reality, careful smile planning involves more behind-the-scenes analysis than most people realize.

The records from your first appointment are used to evaluate tooth proportions, lip support, gum display, facial symmetry, and bite relationships, along with jaw position, smile width, and tooth wear patterns.

For patients considering veneers, this stage helps determine how much preparation may be required. For Invisalign® patients, the planning process can show how tooth movement may affect overall facial balance, not just tooth alignment.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t only about appearance. Bite forces, jaw movement, gum health, and long-term stability all influence whether a result will continue to function comfortably years from now, and that analysis takes time.

Appointment Two: Reviewing Your Smile Mock-Up

The second digital smile design consultation appointment is when you begin to see the proposed outcome take shape.

During this visit, you are presented with a physical mock-up that simulates the proposed smile design. It gives you a clear, precise picture of what can realistically be achieved. We like to call this your “Smile Trial.”

Rather than relying solely on digital renderings, you can evaluate the proposed smile directly on your face. This makes it easier to assess things that are difficult to judge from photographs alone, like tooth length, shape, proportions, lip support, smile balance, and how your smile looks naturally in motion.

Most refinements can be discussed before treatment begins. For many patients, this appointment removes much of the uncertainty around cosmetic dentistry. Seeing the proposed result within the context of your own facial features is very different from imagining it abstractly.

This appointment also includes a detailed discussion about treatment recommendations and approximate timelines. Depending on your needs, treatment may involve veneers, Invisalign®, restorative work, gum contouring, or a combination of approaches.

Cosmetic Dentistry Designed Around Collaboration

A digital smile design consultation is meant to create clarity before treatment begins. Across two appointments, the process combines facial analysis, diagnostic imaging, functional evaluation, and aesthetic planning so you can understand both the proposed result and the reasoning behind it.

There’s also room for discussion and refinement before any cosmetic treatment takes place. Rather than moving quickly toward veneers or Invisalign®, the consultation process focuses first on a comprehensive understanding of your needs and a careful review of the proposed design.

To learn more about Digital Smile Design, request a consultation at Somerset Dental on James.