Best dentist in Iraq (2026): how to choose a cosmetic & implant dentist
How to choose the best dentist in Iraq for veneers and implants: verifiable criteria, a checklist, red flags and Dr. Khalid Saeed in Duhok as an example.
Read the articleDigital Smile Design and Mock-up: How to See Your Smile Before Any Tooth Preparation
Smile design · 5 min read
The short answer
Digital smile design means planning tooth shape, length and smile line on photos and video of your face, then transferring it to a mock-up: a temporary tooth-coloured copy placed over your teeth without drilling. Dr. Khalid Saeed uses it before every cosmetic case at Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok and Creative Arts in Dubai, so you can see and adjust the smile before any tooth is touched.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Khalid Saeed, cosmetic & implant dentistPublished: · Last updated:
The biggest worry for anyone considering veneers or a Hollywood smile is simple: what will I look like afterwards? Will my teeth look too big or unnaturally white? Will my smile look like everyone else's? These are fair concerns, because tooth preparation cannot be fully undone.
That is why Dr. Khalid Saeed, the cosmetic and implant dentist known as the “celebrity smile maker”, uses digital smile design and a mock-up before any preparation. This article explains each stage, what to assess during the try-in, what the design can reveal and where its limits lie.
Quick facts
- What it is
- A planning stage before cosmetic treatment
- Tools
- Photos, video, digital design, mock-up
- Tooth preparation
- None at the design stage
- Reversible?
- Yes, the mock-up is temporary and removed
- Used before
- Veneers, Hollywood smile, front crowns, full-mouth rehabilitation
- Where
- Celebrity Smile Center, Duhok, and Creative Arts, Dubai
What is digital smile design?
Digital smile design is planning your new smile on photos and video of your face before any treatment. Photos of your face and smile are taken, sometimes with video while you talk and laugh, and the shape, length and width of the teeth and the smile line are then defined.
The reference is your own face: your lips, facial midline and how much tooth and gum show when you smile and speak. The aim is a smile that suits your features, not a template repeated on everyone.
It is used before smile design with veneers, a Hollywood smile, front crowns or full-mouth rehabilitation, and nothing is removed from your teeth at this stage.
What is a mock-up and how is it placed?
A mock-up is a temporary copy of the designed smile, made from tooth-coloured material placed over your existing teeth without drilling. You see it in the mirror, talk and smile with it, take photos and ask family what they think.
A design on screen is not enough on its own, because a picture cannot convey how teeth feel in your mouth or how they look from every angle. So Dr. Khalid transfers the design to a mock-up, turning it into something you test yourself rather than imagine.
You can ask for changes to length or shape before you agree, and the mock-up is removed at the end of the session. Because it is entirely temporary, it commits you to nothing.
What should I assess during the mock-up try-in?
Judge the result in the mirror, in photos and while speaking, not in one moment. Try a broad smile and a soft smile, say ordinary sentences, and look at yourself from the side.
Bring someone you trust for a second opinion. Do not hesitate to say “a little shorter” or “more natural”; that is exactly what the try-in is for.
- Does the tooth length suit your lips when you smile and talk?
- Is the width in proportion to your face, or do the teeth look too big?
- Does the smile line follow the curve of your lower lip?
- Does it look natural from normal conversation distance?
- Are you comfortable pronouncing certain sounds?
- Do the gums show unevenly?
How does the mock-up guide tooth preparation?
Once approved, the mock-up itself guides preparation, so only what the new shape needs is removed from each tooth. This is why Dr. Khalid prefers minimal preparation in many cases.
When the new shape sits slightly over or roughly in line with the current tooth, very little preparation may be needed. In selected cases no-prep veneers can be used, but only when the case allows. Read about minimal-prep and no-prep veneers and the truth about no-prep veneers.
If teeth are protruding or irregular, some areas may need more preparation, or orthodontics may be the better option. The level of preparation is written into your plan before treatment starts.
What can smile design reveal besides veneers?
Sometimes the design shows the problem is not the teeth at all. Uneven or excessive gum display can mean gum contouring with the Waterlase water laser is added to the plan; see gummy smile laser treatment.
It may also show that teeth whitening is enough to achieve what you want, or that orthodontics would suit crooked teeth better than veneers. These alternatives are stated clearly in your plan.
Before any cosmetic work, decay and gum disease are treated first, because veneers need a healthy foundation. Your plan may therefore include a treatment phase before the cosmetic phase.
How does the approved design reach the lab?
The design you approve is sent to Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai, where the veneers are made to match it. The dentist and the technician therefore work from the same shape you tried in your mouth.
The lab is in the same building as Creative Arts in Jumeirah, Dubai, and also makes the veneers for Dr. Khalid's Duhok patients: designed with him, made in Dubai and fitted in Duhok. Learn more about Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai.
In Dubai, the design and mock-up stage takes place at the Creative Arts smile design centre in Dubai, and you can see earlier cases in our before and after gallery.
| Stage | What you see | Is the tooth prepared? |
|---|---|---|
| Digital design | The proposed shape on photos of your face | No |
| Mock-up | A temporary copy in your mouth to test and adjust | No |
| Try-in | The final veneers before bonding | After the preparation set in your plan |
| Bonding and review | The final result and bite adjustment | Yes, as planned |
What are the limits of a mock-up?
A mock-up shows shape, length and proportion well, but it is not the final veneer. Temporary material usually differs from porcelain in shine and translucency, so the final shade often looks more lifelike than the mock-up.
The mock-up can also be slightly bulkier than the final result in places, because it sits over unprepared teeth. That is why the final veneers are tried in before bonding, so shape and shade can be checked again.
Remember too that photo colours vary between phones and lighting. Judge shade in the clinic and in daylight where possible rather than from a single picture. Results vary from person to person.
Why does design matter when replacing old veneers?
It matters a great deal, because people replacing old veneers are often unhappy with a shape they never tested before it was bonded. Design and a mock-up let them see the new shape and explain what they disliked about the old veneers before removal.
At Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok, the Waterlase water laser is used in many cases to remove old glass-ceramic veneers. Once removed, the teeth and gums underneath are reassessed, because what lies beneath old veneers can change the plan.
In these cases design may happen in two steps: an initial concept before removal, then a more precise mock-up once the real teeth are visible. Ask for this to be explained in your written plan, including the number of teeth, material and alternatives.
Can smile design start remotely before I travel?
An initial assessment can start remotely from photos on WhatsApp, but the final design and mock-up need an in-clinic examination. Photos help the team explain your likely options and expected number of visits.
Send front and side photos of your smile in good light, any previous X-rays, and a note of what bothers you. If you are comparing dentists, read questions to ask before choosing a veneer dentist, starting with: will I see a mock-up before any preparation?
Cases from Dr. Khalid's clinic
Natural veneers with a balanced shadeFull smile makeover – clinical photosFrom yellow teeth to a veneer smile – before and afterResults vary from patient to patient. Photos are published with the patients' consent.
Creative Arts Dental & Aesthetics · Jumeirah, Dubai
Dr. Khalid Saeed at Creative Arts, Dubai
Alongside his clinic in Duhok, Dr. Khalid Saeed treats patients at Creative Arts Dental & Aesthetics in Jumeirah, which he co-founded, with Creative Art Dental Lab in the same building. The centre's official pages:
- Veneers in Dubai at Creative Arts
- E.max veneers in Dubai
- Smile design centre in Dubai with an in-house lab
- Creative Arts smile gallery – before and after
- Hollywood smile in Dubai
- Dr. Khalid Saeed's profile at Creative Arts
614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · +971 4 342 4444 · daily 10:00–20:00 · Dr. Khalid DHA licence 06772519
Questions patients ask about this
Do veneers damage your teeth?How long do veneers last?Do veneers hurt?Can I get veneers without shaving my teeth?E.max or porcelain veneers: which is better?Composite or porcelain veneers?Can I get veneers while pregnant?What is the minimum age for veneers?Can I get veneers if I grind my teeth at night?My veneer fell off – what should I do?Do coffee and tea stain veneers?What can I eat after getting veneers?All patient questions →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between digital smile design and a mock-up?
Digital smile design is planning the new shape on photos and video of your face, so you see it on a screen. A mock-up transfers that design into your mouth using temporary tooth-coloured material placed over your teeth without drilling, so you see it in the mirror and talk and smile with it. The design sets the idea; the mock-up lets you test and adjust it before any preparation.
Does a mock-up hurt or require drilling?
No. A mock-up does not require any tooth preparation, because it sits over your existing teeth and is then removed. It is fully reversible and commits you to nothing. You may feel some fullness in your mouth during the try-in because the material sits on top of the teeth; this is temporary and disappears once it is removed.
Can I change the shape after seeing the mock-up?
Yes, that is the purpose of the mock-up. You can ask for changes to length or shape, or for a more natural look, before you approve. Once approved, the design becomes the reference for preparation and for the lab that makes your veneers, so take your time, take photos and ask someone you trust for their view.
Will my final veneers look exactly like the mock-up?
Final veneers are made to the approved design, so shape and length are very close. Porcelain differs from temporary material in shine and translucency, however, so the final shade often looks more natural. That is why the final veneers are tried in before bonding to confirm shape and colour. Results vary from person to person.
Does Dr. Khalid Saeed use a mock-up for every patient?
Dr. Khalid Saeed uses digital smile design and a mock-up before every cosmetic case involving veneers or a Hollywood smile, both at Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok and at Creative Arts in Dubai. The principle is that you see your new smile in your own mouth and approve it before any tooth is prepared.
Could smile design show that I do not need veneers?
Yes, sometimes it does. The design may show that whitening is enough, that orthodontics would suit crooked teeth better, or that the issue is the gums, in which case Waterlase gum contouring may be suggested. These alternatives are set out clearly in your written plan, and the decision remains yours once you understand the options.
Does the mock-up decide how much tooth is removed?
Yes. The approved mock-up guides preparation, so only what the new shape needs is removed. That is why Dr. Khalid prefers minimal preparation in many cases and uses no-prep veneers only when the case allows. The level of preparation is written into your plan before treatment begins.
Trusted medical sources for further reading
External links to international medical references, for further reading only; they do not replace an examination.
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