Digital Smile Preview

Before committing to a cosmetic or orthodontic treatment plan, it helps to see where that plan is headed. A Digital Smile Preview gives you a look at your projected result — built from a digital scan of your own teeth and gums — so you can review the plan and ask questions before any treatment begins.

What digital Smile Preview is

A Digital Smile Preview is a computer-generated visualization of how your smile may look after a proposed treatment. It's created using a digital scan of your teeth, gums, and bite — most often from an intraoral scanner rather than the traditional putty-filled trays dentists used for impressions in the past.

Because the underlying scan is digital, the resulting model can be reviewed on a screen, adjusted, and discussed in the same visit. This replaces the older process of waiting on physical molds or plaster casts to get a sense of a treatment's direction, and it removes the guesswork of trying to picture a result from a verbal description alone.

How we use it at 1st Family Dental

At 1st Family Dental, the Digital Smile Preview is generated from a scan taken with our iTero Element Scanner, which captures a detailed 3D model of your teeth and gums without messy putty or gagging. That same scan can be used to simulate a potential post-treatment smile, giving you a preview to review with your dentist.

This preview is typically discussed alongside conversations about cosmetic dentistry, veneers, bonding, and teeth whitening, as well as orthodontic options such as Invisalign clear aligners, which are also planned from an iTero scan. Reviewing a visual plan up front helps you and your dentist agree on direction before any preparation or aligner fabrication starts.

The digital record from your scan also becomes part of your file in our electronic health records system, so it stays available to our team across visits as treatment progresses.

What it means for you

Seeing a visual plan before treatment starts offers several practical advantages:

Clearer communication — a picture of the proposed result is often easier to discuss than a description alone.
Comfort — a digital scan avoids the messy trays and gag reflex associated with older impression methods.
Informed decisions — reviewing a preview gives you the chance to ask questions or request adjustments before treatment begins.
Efficiency — because the scan is captured digitally, it can often be reviewed the same day it's taken.

These are general benefits of digital smile planning technology and how it is typically used in dental and orthodontic care.

What to expect during your visit

A visit involving a Digital Smile Preview usually begins with a conversation about what you'd like to change or improve about your smile. Your dentist will then use the iTero Element Scanner to capture a digital scan of your teeth and gums — a quick, wand-like device is guided over your teeth rather than a tray of impression material being held in your mouth.

Once the scan is complete, the resulting 3D model can be reviewed on a screen, and a simulated preview of your smile after the proposed treatment can be generated and discussed with your dentist. There's no downtime and no recovery period, since the process is limited to scanning and reviewing images. Depending on the complexity of the treatment being planned, this may be part of a longer consultation that also includes digital x-rays or other diagnostic images.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Digital Smile Preview safe?

Yes. The scan used to build the preview is captured with an optical scanner and does not use radiation, so it can be reviewed and repeated as needed during planning without added exposure.

Is the scanning process comfortable?

Most patients find it more comfortable than traditional putty impressions, since there's no tray to bite down on and no material to set in the mouth. The scanner wand simply passes over the teeth while images are captured.

How long does it take?

Capturing the scan itself typically takes a matter of minutes. The time needed to review and discuss the resulting preview with your dentist depends on the complexity of the treatment being considered.

Who is a Digital Smile Preview suitable for?

It's generally used for patients considering cosmetic treatments, such as veneers or whitening, or orthodontic treatment, such as Invisalign. Your dentist can advise whether it's a good fit for the specific changes you're considering.

If you're thinking about a cosmetic or orthodontic change and want to see where treatment could lead, get in touch with 1st Family Dental to ask about a Digital Smile Preview.