Making the decision to change your smile is exciting. It’s also a little terrifying.

You’re considering investing time, money, and trust into a process that will permanently alter one of your most visible features. You’ve probably looked at before-and-after photos, listened to dentist explanations, and maybe even seen computer simulations. But there’s always been that nagging question: “How do I really know I’ll be happy with the results?”

For decades, that question had no good answer. Patients had to commit to treatment and hope for the best. It’s like buying a car you’ve never test-driven or a house you’ve only seen in pictures. The stakes feel high because they are.

At Braden Dental Center, we’ve eliminated that uncertainty with technology that seemed like science fiction just a few years ago: the smile test drive. You can literally wear your future smile, see it in the mirror, and make sure it’s exactly what you want before any irreversible dental work begins.

What Is a Smile Test Drive?

A smile test drive is a physical, three-dimensional model of your future smile that you can wear over your existing teeth. It’s not a digital image on a screen. It’s not an artist’s rendering. It’s a tangible prototype of what your teeth will look like after cosmetic dental treatment.

Think of it like a try-on experience at a high-end clothing boutique, except instead of trying on a jacket, you’re trying on your new smile.

The model is created using advanced 3D printing technology based on your personalized Digital Smile Design. It fits precisely over your current teeth, giving you an accurate preview of your smile’s final appearance. You can see how the new tooth shape, size, and alignment will look on your face. You can smile, talk, and get a realistic sense of how your new smile will feel.

This isn’t a rough approximation. The precision of modern 3D printing technology means your test drive model reflects the exact specifications of your planned treatment down to fractions of a millimeter.

Why Braden Dental Center Offers This Technology

Most dental practices rely on digital mockups shown on computer screens. These can be helpful visualization tools, but they have significant limitations. Screen images are two-dimensional, affected by lighting and screen quality, and they require imagination to translate what you see on a monitor to what will exist in your mouth.

Dr. Ryan Braden and Dr. Jaymie Braden recognized these limitations and made a commitment to offering something better. As one of only 91 Digital Smile Design Certified Clinics worldwide, Braden Dental Center invested in the training, technology, and expertise required to provide genuine smile test drives.

Why go to this level of effort and expense? Because your confidence matters. Because permanent decisions deserve certainty, not guesswork. Because the difference between a smile you like and a smile you love often comes down to details you can only appreciate when you’re looking at your own face, not a computer screen.

Research from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry shows that patient satisfaction increases dramatically when people can preview their cosmetic results in realistic ways before treatment. The smile test drive takes this principle to its logical conclusion.

The Science and Technology Behind Your Test Drive

Creating your smile test drive involves several sophisticated steps that blend artistry with advanced technology.

Digital Design Creation

Your test drive begins with comprehensive digital imaging. Using high-resolution cameras and specialized software, we capture detailed photographs of your face, smile, and teeth from multiple angles. We also record videos of you smiling, talking, and moving naturally.

This visual information is combined with precise digital impressions of your teeth. Unlike old-fashioned impression trays filled with goopy material, our modern digital scanners capture detailed 3D maps of your teeth in just minutes. The experience is comfortable, and the accuracy is superior to traditional methods.

Smile Design with Your Input

Using Digital Smile Design software, we create a customized plan for your new smile. This isn’t a template or a standard approach. We design your smile based on your facial proportions, your personality, and your specific goals. Throughout this process, you’re actively involved. We show you options, discuss alternatives, and refine the design until you’re excited about what you see.

3D Printing Precision

Once your digital design is finalized, we use that plan to create your physical test drive model through 3D printing. The printer builds your model layer by microscopic layer using biocompatible materials. The result is a precise physical representation of your future smile.

According to dental technology research published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 3D-printed dental models have revolutionized treatment planning by providing tactile, realistic previews that help patients understand and approve treatment plans.

Custom Fitting

Your completed test drive model is carefully fitted to ensure it sits comfortably over your existing teeth. We make any necessary adjustments so you can wear it easily and see an accurate representation of your final results.

What You’ll Experience During Your Test Drive

When you arrive for your smile test drive appointment, you might feel a bit nervous. That’s completely normal. You’re about to see a dramatic change to your appearance, even if it’s temporary.

We’ll carefully place the test drive model over your teeth. The fit should feel secure but comfortable. You might need a moment to adjust to the sensation of something new in your mouth, similar to how new dental work can feel slightly different at first.

Then comes the moment of truth: looking in the mirror.

Most patients have one of two immediate reactions. Either they break into a huge smile because they’re thrilled with what they see, or they study their reflection carefully, taking time to process the change. Both reactions are perfectly fine. This is your opportunity to really look, evaluate, and decide.

We encourage you to:

Take Your Time

There’s no rush. Wear the test drive for as long as you need. Some patients know immediately that the design is perfect. Others want to spend more time examining their reflection from different angles.

Take Photos and Videos

Use your phone to capture images and videos of yourself wearing the test drive. Look at these photos the way others will see you, in everyday situations rather than the artificial environment of a dental office. Many patients find this step invaluable because photos sometimes reveal things you don’t notice in the mirror.

Talk and Smile Naturally

Practice speaking and smiling the way you normally would. See how the test drive looks when you laugh, when you’re having a conversation, and during natural expressions. Your smile needs to look good not just when you’re posing for a photo but in real-life situations.

Get Second Opinions

We actually encourage you to share photos with trusted friends or family members. While the final decision is yours, getting input from people who know you well can be helpful. They might notice things you don’t or provide reassurance about aspects you’re uncertain about.

Consider How It Matches Your Personality

Does this smile feel like you? Cosmetic dentistry should enhance your natural appearance and personality, not create a smile that feels like it belongs to someone else. The test drive helps you evaluate whether the design feels authentic.

Making Adjustments: You’re in Control

Here’s what makes the smile test drive truly revolutionary: you’re not locked into the first design. If you want changes, we make them.

Maybe you’d prefer slightly smaller teeth. Perhaps you want a bit more or less whiteness. You might decide the shape should be adjusted to look more natural or more dramatic. Whatever your feedback, we incorporate it into a revised design.

We’ll create a new test drive model reflecting your requested changes. You can try this updated version and provide additional feedback if needed. The process continues until you’re completely satisfied.

This is fundamentally different from traditional cosmetic dentistry, where you might not realize you wanted something different until after permanent work is already complete. With the test drive, there are no expensive surprises or disappointments.

Real Patient Experiences

Sarah, a patient from Lake Geneva, shared her experience: “I wanted veneers but was scared I’d end up with that fake, overly white, chiclet-tooth look. When I tried on the test drive, I could immediately see it looked natural. My husband saw the photos and didn’t even realize I was wearing a temporary model. That’s when I knew the design was perfect.”

Michael, who was preparing for dental implant restoration, told us: “I lost several teeth and felt embarrassed about my smile for years. When I wore the test drive, I actually got emotional. I hadn’t seen myself smile confidently in so long. Knowing that’s what I’d look like after treatment made the whole process easier to commit to.”

These stories reflect what we see regularly. The test drive transforms cosmetic dentistry from a leap of faith into a confident, informed decision.

Beyond Cosmetic Dentistry: Other Uses for Test Drives

While smile test drives are most commonly used for cosmetic procedures like veneers and complete smile makeovers, they’re valuable in other situations too.

Invisalign Treatment Planning

If you’re considering clear aligners to straighten your teeth, a test drive can show you what your straightened smile will look like after orthodontic treatment is complete. This helps you decide if the time and investment in Invisalign will achieve the results you’re hoping for.

Restorative Work Preview

When you need crowns, bridges, or other restorative treatments, a test drive ensures the restoration not only functions well but also looks exactly how you want. You can preview the restoration before it’s permanently placed.

Implant Planning

For patients receiving dental implants, the test drive shows what your implant-supported teeth will look like, helping you feel confident about your tooth replacement decision.

The Investment in Your Confidence

Some patients initially wonder about the cost and time involved in creating a smile test drive. Is it really necessary?

Consider what’s at stake. You’re making a permanent change to your appearance. The investment in previewing that change before committing is minimal compared to the cost of being dissatisfied with results or needing corrective work later.

The smile test drive also saves time and money in the long run. Because we’ve eliminated guesswork and uncertainty, your treatment proceeds efficiently with predictable results. There’s no trial and error, no adjustments after the fact, and no disappointment.

Most importantly, the test drive provides peace of mind. You’ll move forward with treatment feeling excited and confident rather than anxious and uncertain.

What Happens After You Approve Your Test Drive?

Once you’ve worn the test drive, evaluated it thoroughly, and confirmed you’re happy with the design, we move forward with your actual treatment.

Because we’ve already mapped out every detail through Digital Smile Design and your approved test drive, your treatment proceeds with precision. We’re not improvising or making judgment calls during the procedure. We’re executing a plan you’ve already seen and approved.

This makes the treatment process itself less stressful. You know what the endpoint looks like. There are no surprises. You’re working toward a specific, previewed goal rather than hoping for the best.

Not Just Technology: The Personal Touch

While the smile test drive involves impressive technology, what really matters is the relationship between you and our dental team. Dr. Ryan Braden and Dr. Jaymie Braden don’t just use technology for its own sake. They use it as a tool to understand what you want and to ensure you’re completely happy with your decision.

During your consultation and test drive experience, you’ll find that we ask a lot of questions. We want to understand not just what you don’t like about your current smile but what you love about it. We want to know about your lifestyle, your personality, and what “perfect” means to you specifically.

This personalized attention, combined with cutting-edge technology, is what sets Braden Dental Center apart from other practices.

Taking the Next Step

If you’re considering cosmetic dentistry and the idea of previewing your results before treatment appeals to you, the smile test drive might be exactly what you need to move forward with confidence.

The process begins with a conversation. Call us at 262-248-0120 to schedule a consultation. We’ll discuss your goals, examine your current smile, and explain how Digital Smile Design and the smile test drive work in your specific situation.

You’ll learn about how we create personalized smile designs that reflect your unique facial structure and personality, ensuring your new smile looks authentic and natural.

There’s no pressure and no commitment required at your consultation. We simply want to understand what you’re hoping to achieve and show you how we can help you get there with certainty rather than guesswork.

Your smile matters. It affects how you feel about yourself, how you present yourself to the world, and how confident you feel in social and professional situations. If you’re not completely happy with your smile, you don’t have to guess what treatment might achieve. With the smile test drive, you can see it, experience it, and approve it before making any permanent changes.

The future of cosmetic dentistry isn’t about taking leaps of faith. It’s about making informed, confident decisions based on real previews. That future is available right here in Lake Geneva, and it starts with a simple phone call.