Planning Cosmetic Dental Treatment

If you are considering private cosmetic dental treatment in London—whether it’s veneers, crowns, or bonding—you probably have a specific vision in mind. London is home to some of the most respected and artistic dental aesthetics in the world. But how exactly does your ideal smile become reality?

In high-end cosmetic dentistry, the planning process is just as vital as the treatment itself. This blog walks you through each stage of the journey — from your first consultation to previewing your new smile — so you can approach the process with confidence and clarity.

A well-executed planning phase ensures

• Expectations are aligned with clinical possibilities
• Irreversible changes to natural teeth are minimised
• The outcome is aesthetically pleasing, yet also functional and sustainable
• You are fully confident before committing to any treatment

What to expect

• High-resolution photographs of your teeth and facial expressions
• Intra-oral scans or dental impressions to create a 3D model of your teeth
• Bite analysis to assess jaw function and occlusion
• Smile and facial analysis to evaluate symmetry and proportion
• A conversation about your goals, lifestyle, and preferences
• Screening for clinical issues such as tooth wear, gum disease or decay

This is your opportunity to define your vision. Are you looking for whiter teeth? A more balanced smile? Less gum visibility? Clear communication at this stage ensures a more personalised and successful outcome.

This stage includes:

• Analysing facial proportions, smile line, and lip movement
• Designing new tooth shapes, sizes, and contours
• Creating a digital or physical wax-up model of your proposed smile
• Collaborating with a dental laboratory to refine and produce the design

The laboratory’s skilled technicians bring technical and artistic precision to the process, ensuring your veneers or crowns will look natural and harmonious.

This is one of the most transformative steps of your treatment journey. Using a temporary and entirely reversible technique, you’ll experience what your new smile could look and feel like—before any permanent work begins.

The process

• A clear silicone or printed template is placed over your natural teeth
• A tooth-coloured resin is flowed into the mould
• The template is gently removed, revealing a fully shaped mock-up of your new smile
• No drilling, anaesthetic, or commitment is required at this stage

What patients gain from this stage

• The ability to see their potential smile in their own mouth
• A sense of how the new teeth feel, particularly with speaking and lip posture
• The option to request adjustments to shape, size, or texture
• Clinical photographs to support decision-making and discussion with trusted friends or family
• This stage often has an emotional impact, transforming an idea into a tangible experience and giving you the clarity to move forward.

Your Dentist’s Role During This Process

An experienced cosmetic dentist guides and coordinates the entire process. Their role is both clinical and artistic.

They will:

• Interpret your vision and communicate it to the lab
• Apply the mock-up with precision and care
• Assess the smile in real-time with you, including bite, speech, and facial balance
• Take photos and videos to help evaluate and fine-tune the result
• Ensure you are fully informed before progressing to permanent treatment

After the Mock-Up: Next Steps in Treatment

Once you approve your mock-up, your dentist begins the final treatment phase.

If you choose veneers or crowns:

• Minimal tooth preparation may be required
• Impressions are taken for the lab to create your permanent restorations
• Temporary veneers or crowns are fitted during the fabrication period
• Your final restorations are bonded in place, usually within two weeks

Why This Matters When Choosing a Cosmetic Dentist in London

• A meticulously planned cosmetic treatment results in more natural, predictable, and satisfying outcomes. It ensures that your investment delivers not just a new look—but a transformation that feels like you.
• The intra-oral mock-up is a crucial part of the process
• It offers insight, control, and reassurance
• When combined with digital planning and skilled laboratory work, the entire experience becomes seamless, personal, and deeply rewarding