What a Smile Mock-up Can Tell You
A cosmetic mock-up can help discuss proposed tooth shape and appearance. Understand what is being previewed and what still needs a separate decision.
A dentist offers to show you a proposed change before you choose veneers or other cosmetic work. First ask what kind of preview is being offered: an edited photograph, a model or a temporary mock-up placed in the mouth. Those formats let you consider different things, and none is the completed restoration.
Use the preview to make your preferences specific
A published clinical report describes a diagnostic mock-up as a temporary physical preview used before irreversible veneer preparation. It illustrates a planning and communication technique; one report does not guarantee another person's result. Ask how the preview relates to the treatment being proposed for your own teeth.[1]
Rather than saying only that you want a nicer smile, describe what you notice: an edge feels too long, a shape looks unfamiliar or the change is more visible than you expected. If there is an in-mouth trial, ask whether you can speak and view it from ordinary conversational distances. Give yourself time to describe a concern.
Ask what the preview cannot establish
Confirm whether the colour, surface finish and material are representative of the final work. Ask what the dentist still needs to assess about your bite, tooth health and gum condition. A useful visual discussion should make these questions easier to ask, rather than turn liking a picture into consent for every later step.
The CDA explains that porcelain veneers involve removing enamel and are not reversible. Ask exactly which teeth would be prepared, how much structure would be changed and whether a more conservative option or no treatment is reasonable. Approving a proposed appearance and accepting tooth preparation are connected but distinct decisions.[2]
Record the agreed change
Before proceeding, ask how the selected shape and your comments will be recorded, when you can review the final work and what repair or replacement would involve. Confirm the estimate and ongoing care. The best use of a mock-up is a clearer shared plan, with room to change your mind before irreversible work.