You’ve decided you want to change your smile. You’ve done your research, looked at before-and-after photos, and maybe even had consultations at other dental offices. Now you’re wondering: what actually happens during the smile transformation process?

If you’re like most people considering cosmetic dentistry, you have questions. How long will it take? Will it hurt? What if you don’t like the results? How many appointments are required? What happens at each step?

At Braden Dental Center, we believe uncertainty creates anxiety. When you understand exactly what to expect at every stage of your smile journey, you can move forward with confidence and excitement rather than nervousness and doubt.

This is your complete guide to the Digital Smile Design process from your very first phone call through the moment you see your final smile in the mirror.

Before You Even Walk Through Our Doors

Your journey actually begins before your first appointment. When you call our office at 262-248-0120, you’ll speak with team members who understand that reaching out about cosmetic dentistry can feel vulnerable. You’re calling about something deeply personal, and you might feel self-conscious about your current smile.

Our team creates a welcoming, judgment-free environment from that very first conversation. You’ll be asked about your goals and concerns, but never pressured. We’ll find a consultation time that works with your schedule and answer any preliminary questions you have.

Many patients ask during this initial call whether they need to bring anything to the consultation. We recommend bringing:

A list of any questions or concerns you want to discuss. Writing them down ensures you don’t forget anything important during the appointment.

Photos of smiles you admire, if you have them. These visual references help us understand your aesthetic preferences.

Information about your dental insurance if you have coverage, though many cosmetic procedures aren’t covered by insurance. We’ll help you understand your options regardless.

A willingness to be open and honest about what you want. The more we understand your goals, the better we can help you achieve them.

Stage One: The Consultation and Discovery Process

Your first visit to Braden Dental Center is designed to be relaxing and informative. This typically takes 60 to 90 minutes, giving us time to really get to know you and your smile goals.

Meeting Your Dental Team

You’ll meet Dr. Ryan Braden or Dr. Jaymie Braden, along with team members who will support your journey. This isn’t a rushed encounter. We sit down and have an actual conversation about who you are, what brings you to our office, and what you’re hoping to achieve.

We ask questions that might surprise you because they go beyond just dental issues. We want to know about your lifestyle, your profession, your personality, and how your smile affects your daily life. Do you avoid smiling in photos? Do you cover your mouth when you laugh? Have you been self-conscious about your teeth for years, or is this a recent concern?

These questions aren’t invasive. They’re designed to help us understand the emotional and social aspects of your smile, not just the clinical details.

Comprehensive Examination

After our conversation, we’ll conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. Cosmetic dentistry works best when built on a foundation of good oral health, so we need to understand the complete picture.

We’ll check for:

Any existing dental problems that need to be addressed before or during cosmetic treatment. Issues like cavities, gum disease, or worn enamel may need attention as part of your overall plan.

The condition of existing dental work like fillings, crowns, or previous cosmetic treatments. Sometimes these can be preserved, other times they should be replaced as part of your new smile.

Your bite relationship and jaw alignment. How your upper and lower teeth come together affects both aesthetics and function.

The health of your gums and bone structure, particularly important if you’re considering treatments like dental implants or veneers.

This examination is comfortable and thorough. We use modern digital X-rays that expose you to significantly less radiation than traditional X-rays while providing clearer images.

Digital Imaging and Impressions

Next comes the technology component. We’ll capture detailed digital images of your smile using high-resolution photography. This includes:

Close-up shots of your teeth from various angles, showing current color, shape, alignment, and any imperfections.

Full-face photos that show how your smile fits within your overall facial structure. We photograph you smiling, at rest, and with various expressions.

Profile views that reveal proportional relationships between your teeth, lips, and facial features.

Videos of you smiling and talking naturally. Static photos only tell part of the story. Video captures the dynamic reality of how your smile moves and appears during conversation.

We also take digital impressions using an intraoral scanner. This small, wand-like device captures a precise 3D map of your teeth in just minutes. The experience is far more comfortable than traditional impression trays filled with goopy material that can trigger gagging. According to the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, digital impressions are more accurate and significantly more comfortable for patients.

Discussing Your Vision

With examination and imaging complete, we return to conversation. Now that we’ve seen your current situation, we want to hear more specifically about your vision for change.

What specific aspects of your smile do you want to address? Color, shape, alignment, gaps, worn edges, gum display, or overall appearance?

Are there characteristics of your current smile you want to preserve? Many people want improvement while maintaining certain natural features they appreciate.

How dramatic do you want the change to be? Some patients seek subtle refinement, while others want dramatic transformation.

What concerns do you have about the process? Fear of pain, worry about looking artificial, anxiety about the time commitment, or concerns about cost are all common and valid.

This open dialogue ensures we’re designing a smile that matches your goals, not ours. You’re the one who will wear this smile every day. It needs to make you happy.

Stage Two: Digital Smile Design Creation

After your consultation, our team begins the design process using specialized Digital Smile Design software. This typically takes about a week, though complex cases may require additional time.

Analyzing Your Facial Aesthetics

Using your photos and videos, we analyze your facial proportions, symmetry, and features. The software helps us evaluate mathematical relationships that create aesthetically pleasing smiles, but we don’t blindly follow formulas. We consider how principles of aesthetic dentistry apply specifically to your unique face.

We look at how your smile relates to your eyes, nose, and overall facial structure. We evaluate your lip dynamics and how much tooth displays when you smile naturally versus when you’re posing for a photo.

Creating Your Personalized Design

Based on our analysis and your stated goals, we design your new smile digitally. This involves selecting tooth shapes, sizes, colors, and positions that will create the result you’re seeking while looking natural on your face.

This is where artistry meets science. We’re not just making teeth whiter or straighter. We’re creating a personalized design that reflects your unique personality and facial structure.

Developing Multiple Options

In many cases, we create variations of your design. Perhaps one version is more conservative while another is more dramatic. Or we might show you options with different tooth shapes or slightly different proportions.

These variations help you refine your preferences and make informed decisions about details you might not have considered initially.

Stage Three: Design Review and the Smile Test Drive

Once your digital design is complete, you’ll return to our office for a design review appointment. This is one of the most exciting stages of the process.

Reviewing Digital Mockups

We’ll show you the digital designs we’ve created, displayed on a large screen where you can see details clearly. We’ll explain the design decisions we made and why, relating them back to your goals and facial characteristics.

You’ll see before-and-after comparisons that illustrate the transformation. We’ll show you how your new smile will look from different angles and in various situations.

This is your opportunity to provide feedback. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Want teeth slightly smaller, brighter, or shaped differently? We’ll note your feedback and make adjustments.

Creating Your Smile Test Drive

Here’s where Braden Dental Center’s approach becomes truly unique. While many practices stop at digital mockups, we take the extra step of creating a physical model you can actually wear.

Using your approved digital design, we create a 3D-printed smile test drive model. This tangible prototype of your future smile is precisely fabricated to fit over your existing teeth.

The Test Drive Experience

When your test drive model is ready (usually within a week or two of your design review), you’ll return to try it on.

We’ll carefully place the model over your teeth. It fits securely but removably, giving you an accurate preview of your final results. You’ll look in the mirror and see yourself with your new smile.

This moment is often emotional. Many patients react with joy, tears, or disbelief at how different (and better) they look. Take your time absorbing this first impression.

We encourage you to:

Take plenty of photos and videos of yourself wearing the test drive. Look at these images the way others will see you in everyday life.

Smile and talk naturally to see how the test drive looks during normal expressions and conversation.

Show the photos to trusted friends or family members if you want additional perspectives.

Consider whether the smile feels like you. Does it match your personality and self-image?

If you love what you see, wonderful. We’ll move forward with treatment. If you want changes, we’ll incorporate your feedback and create a revised test drive. You won’t proceed to actual treatment until you’re completely satisfied with the preview.

Stage Four: Treatment Planning and Preparation

With your smile design finalized and approved, we create a detailed treatment plan. This plan outlines:

Specific Procedures Required

Depending on your situation, your treatment might include:

Porcelain veneers to reshape and recolor visible teeth.

Dental crowns to restore damaged teeth or those that need more extensive repair than veneers can provide.

Teeth whitening to brighten your smile, either as a standalone treatment or to complement other procedures.

Invisalign clear aligners if orthodontic alignment is needed before restorative work.

Dental implants to replace missing teeth before completing your smile design.

Gum contouring if you show excessive gum tissue when you smile.

Any necessary preparatory work like treating cavities or addressing gum health.

Timeline and Appointments

We’ll explain how long your treatment will take and how many appointments will be required. Simple cases might be completed in just a few visits over several weeks. More complex transformations could take several months, particularly if orthodontics or implants are involved.

We’ll schedule your appointments in advance, making it easier to plan around your work and personal commitments.

Financial Planning

Cosmetic dentistry is an investment in yourself, and we want you to understand the costs involved. We’ll provide a detailed breakdown of fees for each aspect of your treatment.

We discuss payment options, including our membership club for patients without insurance, financing options that allow you to spread payments over time, and any insurance coverage that might apply to portions of your treatment.

There are no hidden fees or surprises. You’ll know exactly what you’re investing before we begin.

Preparation Instructions

If your treatment requires any preparation (such as avoiding certain foods or medications, or completing preliminary work like cleanings), we’ll provide clear instructions. Most treatments require minimal preparation, but we ensure you’re informed about anything you need to do.

Stage Five: Treatment Execution

When treatment day arrives, you can feel confident because you already know what the end result will look like. There’s no uncertainty or hoping for the best. You’re working toward a specific, previewed goal.

Comfort and Anxiety Relief

We understand that even with confidence in the outcome, dental procedures can create anxiety. That’s why we offer anxiety relief options including nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you feel relaxed during treatment.

Our office environment is designed for comfort. We provide blankets and pillows, allow you to listen to music or watch movies, and maintain a calm, supportive atmosphere throughout your visit.

Precision Treatment

Because we’re following a detailed plan created through Digital Smile Design, your treatment proceeds with precision. We’re not improvising or making judgment calls during the procedure. Every decision was made during the design phase with your input and approval.

For procedures like veneers or crowns, we prepare your teeth minimally while ensuring optimal bonding and longevity of your restorations. Our CAD/CAM technology allows us to create certain restorations in-house, sometimes completing treatment in a single appointment rather than requiring multiple visits and temporary restorations.

Progress Updates

During longer or more complex treatments, we keep you informed about progress. You’ll understand what we’re doing at each stage and why.

Stage Six: Final Reveal and Adjustments

When your treatment is complete, the moment you’ve been anticipating arrives: seeing your final smile.

The Big Reveal

We’ll hand you a mirror and let you see your transformation. For most patients, this is a powerful moment. You’ve seen the test drive, so the result isn’t a surprise, but seeing your actual teeth (not a temporary model) creates a new level of excitement.

Many patients react emotionally, having carried self-consciousness about their smile for years or even decades. Finally seeing the smile they’ve always wanted can be overwhelming in the best possible way.

Fine-Tuning

We carefully evaluate your new smile to ensure everything is exactly right. We check your bite to confirm your teeth come together properly. We examine the appearance from every angle under various lighting conditions.

If any minor adjustments are needed, we make them immediately. Maybe a tiny bit of reshaping or polishing would perfect the result. Perhaps your bite needs a subtle refinement. These final touches ensure optimal comfort and appearance.

Learning to Care for Your New Smile

Before you leave, we provide detailed instructions for caring for your new smile. Depending on what treatments you received, care requirements may differ from what you’re used to.

We explain proper brushing and flossing techniques, particularly important if you have veneers, crowns, or other restorations. We discuss foods or habits to avoid to protect your investment. We schedule your follow-up appointments to monitor your new smile’s health and longevity.

Stage Seven: Follow-Up and Long-Term Care

Your relationship with Braden Dental Center doesn’t end when your treatment is complete. We’re committed to helping you maintain your beautiful new smile for years to come.

Initial Follow-Up

We typically schedule a follow-up appointment a few weeks after treatment completion. This visit allows us to check how you’re adjusting to your new smile, ensure everything feels comfortable, and address any questions or concerns that have arisen.

Ongoing Maintenance

Your new smile requires the same excellent oral hygiene you should maintain with natural teeth: regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings. We recommend continuing your routine preventive care appointments every six months.

During these visits, we’ll examine your cosmetic work to ensure it’s holding up well and address any issues early before they become problems.

Long-Term Results

With proper care, high-quality cosmetic dentistry can last for many years. Porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 15 years or longer. Crowns can last even longer with good maintenance. Dental implants, when properly cared for, can last a lifetime.

We’ll partner with you to protect your investment and keep your smile looking beautiful as years pass.

What Makes This Process Different

You might be wondering: don’t all dental offices follow a similar process for cosmetic dentistry? Not really.

Many practices still rely on traditional impressions, educated guesses, and hoping the final result matches the patient’s expectations. They might show computer simulations, but those are just images on a screen, not tangible previews you can experience.

At Braden Dental Center, we’ve invested in being one of only 91 Digital Smile Design Certified Clinics worldwide. This certification represents extensive training, significant technology investment, and a commitment to patient-centered care that goes beyond typical cosmetic dentistry.

The difference is in the details:

We spend more time in consultation, really understanding who you are and what you want.

We create designs based on your individual facial aesthetics, not generic templates.

We provide a physical test drive that lets you experience your new smile before committing.

We involve you in every decision, ensuring the final result reflects your goals and preferences.

We combine cutting-edge technology with genuine personal attention and care.

Common Questions About the Process

How long does the entire process take from consultation to completion?

This varies significantly based on your specific treatment. Simple cases might be completed in 4 to 6 weeks. More complex situations involving orthodontics, implants, or extensive work could take several months. We’ll give you a realistic timeline during your consultation.

Is the process painful?

Most cosmetic dental procedures involve minimal discomfort. We use local anesthesia to ensure you don’t feel pain during treatment. Some patients experience mild sensitivity afterward, but this typically resolves quickly. Our anxiety relief options also help keep you comfortable throughout the process.

What if I don’t like something about the final result?

The test drive process is specifically designed to prevent this situation. You approve your design before any permanent work is done. However, if minor adjustments are needed after treatment, we’ll address them. Your satisfaction is our priority.

Can I see examples of results you’ve achieved for other patients?

Absolutely. During your consultation, we’ll show you before-and-after photos of patients who’ve completed Digital Smile Design treatment. You’ll see real results achieved for people with various cosmetic concerns.

What if something unexpected comes up during treatment?

If we discover issues during treatment that weren’t apparent during examination (which is rare), we’ll stop and discuss options with you before proceeding. You’ll never be surprised by unexpected procedures or costs.

Your Journey Begins With a Conversation

The Digital Smile Design process transforms cosmetic dentistry from an uncertain leap of faith into a confident, informed journey with a guaranteed destination. Every step is designed to give you clarity, comfort, and control over your smile transformation.

If you’re ready to begin this journey, or if you simply want to learn more about whether Digital Smile Design is right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Braden Dental Center.

Call us at 262-248-0120 to take that first step. You’ll speak with friendly team members who will answer your questions and find a consultation time that works for your schedule.

During your consultation, you’ll meet Dr. Ryan Braden or Dr. Jaymie Braden and experience firsthand the personalized attention that sets our practice apart. You’ll learn exactly how Digital Smile Design works for your specific situation and what kind of results you can achieve.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. We simply want to understand your goals and show you what’s possible. Many patients tell us that their consultation gave them confidence they’d been lacking for years, helping them finally move forward with a smile transformation they’d been considering but hadn’t felt ready to commit to.

Your smile affects how you feel about yourself, how you present yourself in professional and social situations, and how confident you feel in everyday moments. If you’re not completely happy with your smile, you don’t have to settle. And thanks to Digital Smile Design, you don’t have to guess what treatment might achieve.

You can see it, experience it, and approve it before any permanent changes are made. That’s the power of the Digital Smile Design process, and it’s available to you right here in Lake Geneva.

Your dream smile is waiting. Let’s start the conversation about how to make it a reality.