FAQs

Digital Smile Design^® or ‘DSD’ is a revolutionary dental technique that uses digital photography, dynamic video and state-of-the-art software to record and analyse a patient in preparation for restorative or cosmetic dental work.

Developed by Brazilian dentist and dental ceramist, Dr Christian Coachman, DSD aims to improve communication of the desired restorative result, 1) for you, the patient, to pre-plan, select and approve the proposed treatment plan, 2) for your clinical team to have an approved plan to follow, and 3) for your dental ceramist to create your new teeth structures with precision from a detailed plan.

At Face & Smile we use DSD technology as part of our restorative cosmetic dentistry for patients who’ve lost, broken and damaged some or all of their upper and/or lower teeth. Plus, DSD is ideal for patients seeking to improve aesthetic aspects of their smile that they aren’t happy with.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, feel free to contact us with any questions. Alternatively, register for our next upcoming DSD information session.  

The DSD process starts with your dentist thoroughly examining your face and smile, covering all aspects of facial aesthetics, facial symmetry, your dental and facial midline positions, relating your dental aesthetics to your facial aesthetics, as well as assessing your gum tissue harmony and symmetry. Plus, your DSD dentist will consider how you speak and articulate your voice.

DSD technology and equipment are used to gather a series of photographic images, both inside and outside your mouth, plus take impressions of your upper and lower teeth. Dynamic videos are also used to record how your lips move to express your emotions and how you smile naturally, not that posed ‘say cheese’ smile!

After gathering and analysing all the digital images from your initial DSD consultation, the proposed restorative result is designed and manufactured as a physical temporary ‘mock up’.

This prototype model of your new teeth is placed in your mouth, over your natural teeth, so you can see the end-result of the proposed dental treatment plan, before any actual dental work takes place.

At this stage of the DSD process, you and your dentist will see how you may look and feel about your new smile, as you would after the proposed treatment. Plus, by test-driving your new smile, you’ll be involved in fine-tuning the final design decisions to make sure you get the smile you want.

After that, a treatment plan is proposed and your smile makeover treatments scheduled.

Every DSD patient receives a unique DSD treatment plan based on the smile result they want. A variety of cosmetic dental treatments may be performed with the aid of our DSD technology to streamline your smile makeover process.

Your DSD treatment may or may not include veneers, crowns and bridges to various dental implants including All-on-4® implants, as well as full oral restoration with clear braces or other orthodontic techniques.

Yes! Our ultimate objective, by using DSD technology and DSD treatment planning, is to ensure you receive a smile makeover that's natural and appealing. Most importantly, that your new smile is one that you’re 100% happy with.

The main benefit of DSD is that a truly natural well-suited result is accomplished. A result that complements and harmonises your facial movements, physical and psychological traits, as well as your age, gender and genetics.

With a focus on the natural shaping, shading and arrangement of your teeth, DSD helps create a ‘perfectly imperfect’ smile that reflects your natural beauty and unique character.

Most importantly, by trialling your new smile and accepting the design prior to any permanent dental work, you’ll feel confident about the actual treatment and the results it will deliver because you’ve seen and confirmed the proposed changes.