Are dental before-and-after photos on Instagram real or edited?

A photo is marketing before it is evidence. Strong lighting, cheek retractors and colour correction can make any teeth look whiter and straighter, and some apps whiten teeth automatically. So compare the before and after: were they taken from the same distance? Do skin and lip tones match? If everything in the picture changed, not just the teeth, the comparison is not fair.

Look at the details. In real cases you can see the gum line and side teeth, a slight translucency at the edges and natural light reflections. Teeth that look flat, solid white with no shadow or edge may be edited — or may be opaque veneers that look artificial in real life. Ask for side views and a short video of the patient talking and laughing; video is much harder to retouch than a still.

Ask for a case similar to yours: yellow teeth, gaps, old veneers or a gummy smile. Dr. Khalid's before-and-after gallery includes cases such as yellow, discoloured teeth turned into a natural white smile, and you can also browse the Creative Arts smile gallery in Dubai.

The best proof is not someone else's photo but your own smile. Dr. Khalid uses digital smile design and a mock-up on your teeth before any preparation, so you see length and shape on your face and can photograph it with your phone in daylight. If you do not like it, it is changed before anything starts. You do not need to trust a picture — you can see the result yourself.

• Same light and distance before and after
• Gums and side teeth visible
• Natural translucency at the tooth edges
• Side views and video of talking and laughing
• A mock-up on your own teeth before preparation