Test Drive Your New Smile: See Your Result Before We Touch a Single Tooth
Written by Dr. Lily Taheri, Principal Dentist & Digital Smile Design (DSD) Master, The
Applecross Dentist
Key Takeaways
- The Smile Test Drive is a reversible, non-invasive mockup process that lets you see — and physically wear — your new smile before any treatment begins.
- Dr. Lily Taheri holds a Mastership in Digital Smile Design (DSD), the only dentist in WA with this credential, meaning the preview you receive is a
precise, clinically planned result — not a rough estimate. - You have complete veto power at every stage. If anything feels off, we adjust before a single tooth is touched.
- Flexible payment options — including superannuation (Supercare), Zip Pay, Humm, and all major health funds — make this level of predictability accessible to real people.
Most people who’ve been thinking about their smile for years share the same quiet fear: What if
I commit, spend thousands, and end up with something that doesn’t look like me?
That fear is completely reasonable. And it’s exactly why we don’t ask you to imagine your result — we show it to you first.
The Smile Test Drive is a reversible, non-invasive process where you physically wear a precise mockup of your new smile before any treatment begins. You see it. You feel it. You approve it — or we adjust it. Nothing is permanent until you say so.
What Exactly Is a Smile Test Drive?
The Smile Test Drive is our name for the physical mockup phase of Digital Smile Design (DSD) — a clinically rigorous planning process that designs your new smile using detailed facial analysis, digital imaging, and precise measurements before a single tooth is prepared.
It works like this: rather than asking you to trust a digital rendering on a screen, we translate that design into a physical, temporary mockup that sits directly over your natural teeth. You walk out of the appointment wearing your proposed new smile. You take it home. You live with it.
Dr. Lily Taheri holds a Mastership in Digital Smile Design — the only dentist in Western Australia to hold this credential. That distinction matters because the mockup you receive isn’t a rough approximation. It’s a clinically calibrated preview, built around your specific facial anatomy, your proportions, and the outcome we’ve co-designed together.
No guesswork. No surprises.
How Does the Smile Test Drive Work? (Step by Step)
The process is methodical by design. Here’s what to expect:
- Smile Assessment Consultation — We start with an in-depth conversation about your goals, concerns, and what you’d like to feel confident about. This is where we listen far more than we speak.
- Facial & Digital Analysis — Using high-resolution photography, video analysis, and 3D digital scanning, we capture the relationship between your smile, your lips, and your facial structure. Everything is measured. Nothing is guessed.
- Digital Smile Co-Design — Dr. Lily uses the DSD framework to propose a smile that is built around your face — not a template. You review the digital plan together and provide feedback before anything physical is created.
- The Trial Smile Mockup — A precise, tooth-coloured material is applied directly over your natural teeth. No shaving. No drilling. No anaesthetic required. You see — and wear — your proposed new smile for the first time.
- The Veto Power Phase — This is the most important step. You tell us honestly what you love, what you’d refine, and what feels right. We adjust until the result reflectsexactly what you had in mind.
- Treatment Planning (Only If You Choose to Proceed) — Once you’ve approved the mockup, we build the treatment plan around that confirmed result. You already know what you’re getting.
The scanning process uses technology similar to our AirFlow cleaning system — warm, noncontact, and designed to be as comfortable as possible for patients who have had difficult dental
experiences in the past.
Can I Really See What My Veneers Will Look Like Before
My Teeth Are Touched?
Yes — and this is the core of what makes the Digital Smile Design (DSD) process different from traditional cosmetic dentistry.
Most cosmetic approaches ask you to make a significant, irreversible decision based on a photograph, a digital simulation, or a dentist’s verbal description. The Smile Test Drive replaces that leap of faith with something you can actually experience. The temporary mockup sits over your natural teeth — no preparation, no alteration — so what you see is a genuine, threedimensional preview of your proposed result.
This is why patients who’ve spent years hesitating finally feel ready to move forward. The uncertainty is removed before the commitment is made.
“We believe you should understand every step before we take it.” — Dr. Lily Taheri
It’s worth noting that digital mockup technology, as used here, is a treatment planning tool — it provides a strong, clinically informed preview, though individual results may vary based on your specific dental anatomy and treatment pathway.
What Happens If I Don’t Like My Smile Test Drive?
You tell us, and we adjust. That’s the entire point of this phase.
The mockup is completely reversible. If the shape feels too bold, the length is slightly off, or the proportions are not quite you, we refine the design before any permanent work begins. There is no pressure, no sunk cost, and no irreversible step taken until you’ve given your approval.
This veto power is, for many of our patients, the single most relieving part of the entire process. The fear of being locked into a result you didn’t choose simply doesn’t exist here.
Some patients want minor refinements. Some are ready to proceed immediately. Both responses are completely valid — and both are welcomed without any pressure to decide on the day.
Does a Beautiful Result Require Aggressive Tooth
Shaving?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and it deserves a direct answer.
Dr. Lily’s philosophy is described as “facially driven, minimally invasive smile design” for a reason. The goal is always to achieve the most natural-looking result with the least possible alteration to your natural teeth. In many cases — particularly when the Smile Test Drive reveals that additive changes (adding material rather than removing it) can achieve the desired outcome — tooth preparation may be minimal or, for some patients, not required at all.
The extent of preparation required depends entirely on your individual dental anatomy, your starting point, and the specific outcome we’re planning together. This is assessed honestly during your consultation, with a clear explanation of what’s involved and why — before you commit to anything.
We don’t recommend treatment you don’t need. That’s not how we work.
How Long Does the Smile Mockup Stay On?
The trial smile mockup is a temporary material applied in-chair during your appointment. It’s designed to be worn for a period long enough for you to genuinely evaluate the result — typically allowing you to speak, smile, and interact naturally so you can assess how it feels in real life.
Your treating dentist will discuss the specific duration and any care considerations with you at your appointment, as this can vary depending on the complexity of your proposed treatment and individual circumstances.
How Much Does a Smile Test Drive Cost?
The cost of a digital smile design consultation varies depending on the scope of your proposed treatment and the complexity of the planning involved. We’re transparent about this from the very first conversation — no hidden costs, no surprises at checkout.
For patients who want to understand the full investment before booking, we encourage you to explore our cost of a digital smile design consultation guide, which breaks down what’s typically included at each stage.
Importantly, this level of planning is accessible in ways many patients don’t expect:
- Superannuation (Supercare): Eligible patients may be able to access their superannuation to fund dental treatment
- Zip Pay & Humm: Flexible payment plans to spread the cost in a way that works for your life.
- All major health funds accepted, with preferred provider status for HCF, HBF, and nib.
Premium, predictable cosmetic dentistry shouldn’t be out of reach for people who are serious
about their results.
Is the Smile Test Drive Process Painful or Invasive?
The digital scanning and mockup process is non-invasive by design. There is no drilling, no anaesthetic, and no alteration to your natural teeth during the assessment and trial smile phase.
For patients who carry anxiety from past dental experiences — and many of our patients do — this is often the most reassuring part of the Smile Test Drive. The initial consultation involves conversation, photography, and digital scanning. The mockup appointment involves the careful application of a temporary material. Neither step requires anything that would typically cause discomfort.
If you do experience dental anxiety, we encourage you to tell us before your appointment. We work at your pace, explain every step as we go, and will never proceed without your full understanding and consent.
Why Does This Matter More Than Simply Trusting Your Dentist?
Trust is essential in any clinical relationship — but trust alone shouldn’t be the only thing standing between you and an irreversible decision.
Traditional cosmetic dentistry often operates on a “plan, prepare, and hope” model: the dentist designs a result, prepares the teeth, and the patient sees the final outcome only after the irreversible work is done. For patients investing significantly in their smile, that process carries real emotional and financial risk.
The Digital Smile Design (DSD) approach inverts this entirely. Planning happens first. The result is previewed, refined, and approved before treatment begins. The preparation — if any — follows a confirmed, agreed-upon outcome.
This isn’t just a more comfortable process. It’s a more logical one. To understand how the trial smile compares to committing directly to permanent veneers, our trial smile vs permanent veneers guide walks through the key differences in detail.
If you’ve ever wondered about adjusting your dental test drive after seeing the mockup, that process is straightforward — and entirely expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my superannuation to pay for cosmetic dentistry?
Eligible patients may be able to access superannuation funds for dental treatment through Supercare. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis. We’ll walk you through the eligibility criteria during your consultation.
Does Digital Smile Design look more natural than traditional veneers?
The DSD process is designed to produce results that are facially driven — meaning proportioned to your specific facial anatomy rather than applied from a generic template. Whether the outcome looks natural depends on the treatment plan, the materials chosen, and the goals you set together. We’ll always discuss what’s realistic for your individual situation.
How is the Smile Test Drive different from a standard cosmetic consultation?
A standard consultation typically involves a conversation and a visual assessment. The Smile Test Drive goes further: it produces a physical mockup you can wear and evaluate before any treatment decision is made. It’s the difference between being told what your result might look like and actually experiencing it.
See Your New Smile Before We Touch a Single Tooth
If you’ve been thinking about your smile for a while — and something has always held you back — the Smile Test Drive exists specifically for that moment of hesitation.
You don’t have to commit to anything. You don’t have to imagine the result. You get to see it, wear it, and decide from a place of complete certainty.
Dr. Lily Taheri and the team at The Applecross Dentist are here to co-design a result that looks like a better version of you — natural, considered, and built around your face and your goals.
Book your smile assessment today. There’s no obligation, no pressure, and no surprises — just a clear, honest conversation about what’s possible for you.
- Suite 4/40 Ardross St, Applecross WA 6153
- +61 8 9315 3008
- Open Monday–Friday 8:30 am–6 pm | Saturdays by appointment only