Dra. Cléo Salustiano In this article
SummaryHow is a dental mockup done?What does a mockup show, and what are its limits?FAQRead nextDental mockup: what it is, how it is done and why it matters before veneers
Quick summary of this article+
A dental mockup is a trial smile made in the mouth with temporary resin, with no drilling and no anesthesia, based on a wax-up or digital design. It shows the shape, size and proportion of the teeth, allows adjustments and helps decide between veneers, ultra-thin veneers or orthodontics first. It does not reproduce the exact final color and texture and is easily removed.
A dental mockup is a trial of your new smile made directly in your mouth, using temporary material placed over the teeth with no drilling and no anesthesia. It lets you see, in the mirror and in photos, how the shape, size and proportion of your teeth would look before starting composite veneers, porcelain veneers, ultra-thin veneers or resin bonding.
In clinical practice, the mockup is often one of the most important moments of planning. Many patients arrive with photos of smiles they saw online and, after trying the mockup, realize they want something more subtle, or that the shape they imagined does not suit their face. The reverse also happens: patients afraid of an artificial result feel reassured when they see their teeth still look like teeth.
In this article, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844), who sees patients in Mooca, East Zone of São Paulo, explains what a mockup is, how it differs from a wax-up and digital smile design, how it is done and what its limits are.
This article comes from Dr. Cléo Salustiano's dental office in Mooca, São Paulo (care in English, Portuguese and Spanish). See the composite veneers page to learn how the treatment is done here and book your assessment.
Topic overview: our guide to composite veneers covers who they suit, the step-by-step process, lifespan, aftercare and composite vs porcelain.
How is a dental mockup done?
A mockup is done by transferring a design of the new teeth, planned on a stone model or a digital file, into the mouth. The dentist uses a guide made from that design, fills it with tooth-colored temporary resin and places it over the patient's teeth. Within minutes the resin sets, the guide is removed and the patient sees the trial smile.
Before that, there is a documentation step: photos and videos of the face and smile, impressions or an intraoral scan, and an analysis of proportions such as the smile line, tooth display at rest, the midline and the gum contour. From this, a diagnostic wax-up or a digital smile design is created. The mockup brings that plan into real life, in three dimensions, in daylight and while you talk and smile.
Small adjustments can be made during the session, and the patient can take photos and, in some cases, keep the mockup for a few hours. Afterwards it comes off easily without harming the teeth. Clinically, it also shows whether any reduction will be needed, where there is room to add material and whether the gums need adjusting first.
What does a mockup show, and what are its limits?
A mockup faithfully shows the shape, length, width and proportion of the teeth relative to the face and lips. It does not reproduce the final color, translucency, gloss and texture, because temporary resin is simpler and more opaque. It is a rehearsal of form, not an exact copy of the result.
It may also look slightly bulkier than the final result, since it is placed on unprepared teeth. When teeth are flared or crooked, the mockup may show that aligning them first with braces or clear aligners will allow thinner, more natural veneers. That is valuable information for avoiding treatments that add too much volume.
When you evaluate it, look at your smile from the front and side, talking and at rest, in natural light. Asking for changes is common, and this is the right moment, before any permanent step. In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano uses planning and trial smiles before cosmetic treatments so patients take part in decisions about their own smile, every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., near Bresser-Mooca subway station.
What is a dental mockup?
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A dental mockup is a trial of your new smile made directly in the mouth, with temporary resin placed over the teeth using a guide, without drilling or anesthesia. It shows in the mirror and in photos the shape, size and proportion your teeth would have with veneers or resin bonding, before treatment begins.
Does a mockup hurt or damage the teeth?
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No. The mockup is placed over the teeth with no drilling and no anesthesia. The temporary resin simply rests on the surface and comes off easily at the end without harming the enamel. Your teeth may feel a little bulkier while you wear it, which is normal.
What is the difference between a mockup and a wax-up?
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A diagnostic wax-up is the design of the new teeth sculpted in wax on a stone model, outside the mouth. The mockup transfers that design into the patient's mouth with temporary resin. One plans; the other lets you see and feel the proposed result in your own smile. With scanning, the design can also be digital.
Will my veneers look exactly like the mockup?
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Shape and proportions usually end up very close, because the mockup guides the treatment. But the color, translucency, gloss and texture of the final material are different from temporary resin, usually more natural. Fine adjustments can also be made during treatment. The mockup is a rehearsal, not a promise of an identical result.
Can a mockup show that I need orthodontics first?
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It can. When the trial makes teeth look too bulky or flared, crowding is getting in the way. In those cases, aligning first with braces or clear aligners usually allows thinner, more natural veneers. The decision is made with the patient, considering time, expectations and tooth health.
Can I take the mockup home?
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In some cases, yes, for a few hours, so you can get used to it and see yourself in different situations. During that time, avoid hard and sticky foods, because the material is fragile. Whether this is possible and for how long depends on the case and is agreed with the dentist.
Where can I get a smile mockup in Mooca, São Paulo?
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In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) sees patients at Rua Hipódromo, 1141, every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Cosmetic planning includes photos, smile analysis and a trial smile, so patients can see and take part in decisions before any permanent step.
