Digital Smile Design: A Clinical Case Series Study

Objectives: Digital smile design (DSD) is a valuable tool for communication with patients, enabling them to better visualize the issues and possible solutions, balancing their expectations, and increasing their commitment to and confidence in the team.
The objective of the study was to present a series of clinical cases of esthetic rehabilitation in which the technique of digital smile design was used to assist and improve diagnosis, communication, and predictability of the treatment through an esthetic analysis of the four elements: face, smile, periodontal tissue, and teeth.
Methods: A number of three patients came to the dental clinic complaining of the appearance of their anterior teeth. Examination of the first case revealed esthetic defects related to short, spaced and discolored teeth. In the second case; chipped, discolored, and cracked composite laminate veneers were found on the upper four incisors along with discolored upper canines and premolars, whereas the third patient had chipped old veneers which were made as an attempt to close a midline diastema. A full set of photographs were taken according to the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED) guidelines, along with study casts and bite records for mounting. The photographs were opened into Adobe Photoshop CS6 Software and a digital smile was designed and tailored to the patients with respect to the esthetic parameters. In the second visit, the digital smile was presented and discussed with the patients. Upon patient agreement, the digital smile was converted and applied onto the wax up of the cases using a conversion ratio. A putty index of the wax-up was fabricated for temporization and the next visits of tooth preparation, impression taking, clinical try-in, and cementation followed.
Results: The digital smile design aided in designing the patients smile and in creating a more clear image of the future expectations of the outcome, patients responded to the treatment outcome satisfactorily.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this case series study, it can be concluded that digital smile design can be used as a useful tool in the dentist-patient communication during smile makeover consults and help the dentist tailor the most suitable smile for the patient.