Mock-up — Creating a model of future teeth, advantages and applications

Patients may need dental prosthetic treatment to restore tooth function, tooth aesthetics, or both at the same time. If prosthetic treatment cannot be avoided, in addition to function, it is natural to want a result that is not only practical and reliable, but also attractive.

When it comes to individual teeth, they can be modeled digitally, or a temporary crown can be made to assess the future result. As a rule, a digital 3D model is enough for the patient to make a decision, and only in rare cases is temporary prosthetic treatment needed.

In cases of full-mouth prosthetic treatment or prosthetic treatment of the front teeth (the smile zone), patients have high expectations of the final result, and this is completely justified. In such cases, a mock-up model helps create the dream smile and avoid misunderstandings between the dentist and the patient.

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STEP 1

Scanning and modeling

Using an intraoral scanner, the dentist takes digital impressions of the jaws: the upper jaw, the lower jaw, and both jaws in bite. The digital model is sent to the laboratory. In a computer program, the dentist designs the future smile over the patient's own teeth. This creates a "shark jaw" effect, when the teeth are arranged in 2 rows: the new teeth on the outside, and the patient's own teeth directly behind them.

STEP 2

3D printing

The dentist prints the finished model of each jaw on a 3D printer or mills it on a milling machine.

STEP 3

Silicone impression

The dentist applies silicone material to the finished tooth model and then removes the model. Voids are formed in the silicone that exactly match the shape of the teeth on the model. The silicone mold is filled with composite material and transferred into the oral cavity, onto the patient's natural teeth. The appearance of the new smile can now be assessed.

STEP 4

Preparation

Thanks to the model transfer method, the dentist can clearly see which layer of tissue needs to be removed when preparing the teeth and where no tissue should be removed at all. This approach helps avoid unnecessary, unwanted tooth preparation and preserve as much healthy tissue as possible.

STEP 5

Final scanning and modeling

As in step 1, the dentist scans the jaws again, but this time the teeth have already been prepared. The scans are sent to the laboratory. The primary model is transferred onto the new scans. The resulting model will serve as a template for making permanent crowns and for making secondary jaw models.

STEP 6

Model printing

As in step 3, we print a model of both jaws; this time it will have the final appearance of an even dental arch on each jaw.

STEP 7

Temporary prosthetic treatment

Using silicone material, the dentist takes an impression of the models and fills the resulting mold with composite material, then transfers the material onto the teeth. The result will serve as temporary prosthetic treatment made of composite material. The patient can wear these teeth for 3 days to 3 weeks to get used to them, while the laboratory makes the permanent prosthetic restorations.

Wax-up model

The technology for making a wax model is simple, but it takes more time. The dentist takes impressions and sends them to the laboratory. The dental technician makes a plaster model, creates the shape and size of the teeth on it, and returns it to the dentist. The wax teeth are tried in the oral cavity.

Disadvantages: this method takes a lot of time (up to two weeks), because wax tooth models are made manually by the technician and therefore may have errors and inaccuracies.

Computer modeling

Today there are many professional computer programs for dentists that allow a patient's photos from different angles to be uploaded and a digitally modeled smile to be "placed" into the photo. The person can see a 2D image of the teeth.

Disadvantages: there are a limited number of angles in the photo; the photo does not allow all teeth to be seen or the result to be assessed with different facial expressions. This method also does not allow the patient to feel the comfort and aesthetics in practice.

Temporary prosthetic treatment

Temporary crowns are made very quickly (from 7 minutes), are highly aesthetic, and unlike a mock-up, their service life is about 6 months. The dentist can model the crowns in software, show them to the patient, make adjustments if needed, try the new smile on the face in a computer program, then mill the crowns on a milling machine and fix them in place. If any shortcomings are found, the dentist will correct them before fixation and before making the permanent crowns or veneers. Disadvantages: more time passes between the try-in and permanent prosthetic treatment. For prosthetic treatment without a mock-up, the dentist often removes a larger layer (prepares) of hard tooth tissue.

Dental mock-up

What is a dental mock-up

When a mock-up is needed

Full-mouth treatment with veneers

Local treatment with veneers

Full-mouth treatment with crowns

Smile-zone prosthetic treatment

Full-mouth implant-supported prosthetic treatment

Composite tooth restoration

The process of creating a mock-up model

Scanning and modeling

3D printing

Silicone impression

Preparation

Final scanning and modeling

Model printing

Temporary prosthetic treatment

Alternative to a mock-up model

Wax-up model

Computer modeling

Temporary prosthetic treatment

Our doctors

Maksym Makarenko

Roman Mamonov

Yevhen Makarenko

Maryna Mamonova

Lidiia Bulyhina

Frequently asked questions about mock-up models

How long can you wear a mock-up?

If I do not like the teeth, how can they be corrected?

Does a mock-up harm teeth?

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