---
title: "What Is Digital smile design? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Digital smile design is a planning method that uses photos, scans and software to show a patient a digital mockup of a new smile before treatment starts."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/digital-smile-design
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Technology and Imaging

# Digital smile design

Digital smile design is a planning method that uses photos, scans and software to show a patient a digital mockup of a new smile before treatment starts.

Digital smile design, or DSD, uses software to analyze a person's smile from photographs and scans. The dentist can then design changes on screen and show a digital mockup of the planned result before any treatment starts.

A review says DSD helps visual communication and lets patients take part in the design of their own smile. Because cosmetic treatment can be irreversible, seeing a preview can help a patient decide. The review also covers limits: a mockup shows a plan, and real results can differ.

DSD is a planning tool, not a treatment. It may be used with [veneers](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-veneers) or other cosmetic work. See the [smile makeover](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/smile-makeover) page for the practice's own description. This entry does not say the practice uses DSD software.

[Town Center Dental can helpSmile Makeover](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/smile-makeover)

## Related terms

-   [Dental veneers](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-veneers)
-   [Smile makeover](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/smile-makeover)
-   [Dental bonding](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-bonding)
-   [Intraoral scanner](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/intraoral-scanner)

## Sources

1.  [NIH PMC: Digital Smile Design-An innovative tool in aesthetic dentistry](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7193250/)
2.  [NIH PMC: Digital Smile Design-An innovative tool in aesthetic dentistry](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7193250/)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)