Getting cosmetic dental work completed can be exciting and scary at the same time, but you can reduce your fears about this by talking to your dentist about diagnostic mockups. A diagnostic mockup is a process that allows you to see what your teeth will look like before the work is done. Here are two things to know about diagnostic mockups. 

How it is done

Dentists offer diagnostic mockups for several reasons, but the main reason is to help patients decide whether they want to go through with cosmetic dental procedures. These mockups can be especially helpful for people that are feeling uncertain about the procedures. Diagnostic mockups do not harm or change a person's teeth in any way, and they are not painful.

To complete this procedure, the dentist places tooth colored material on the teeth that require dental work. The material used is made of composite, and this material is very similar to the material dentists use for filling cavities.

The dentist can apply as much or as little of the composite material as needed, and he or she will shave or mold them so the patient has a good idea how the actual services would look. This offers a trial smile to anyone that needs cosmetic dental work.

After the procedure is complete, the dentist will often take pictures of the new smile. After the patient has time to examine how his or her teeth look, the dentist will remove the composite material. This will leave the person's teeth in the condition they were in prior to the mockup.

Pros and cons of mockups

Getting a mockup is the perfect and only way to really see what your teeth would look like after getting services. The only downside to mockups is that they are not 100% accurate. When a person needs veneers or crowns for his or her teeth, the dentist will typically have to remove parts of these teeth to prepare them for these dental products. With a mockup, this is not possible. Because of this, a person's teeth might look bulkier during a mockup than they should be.

If you are not sure if you are ready to go through with cosmetic dental work, consider getting a diagnostic mockup. After seeing how your teeth will look afterward, you may realize that going through with it is a great idea. To learn more, contact a cosmetic dentist today.