AI for Dentists
How to simulate a smile with AI before charging the patient?
Gabriel Gimenez · Published on September 19, 2026
To simulate a smile with AI before charging the patient, the most direct path is this: take a well-lit frontal photo of the patient, upload it to Preview on dentraw LAB, generate the treatment simulation in a few minutes, and show the before and after side by side during the same visit, before you ever mention price. Patients decide far better when they see their own mouth transformed, not someone else's case on your Instagram.
An AI simulation does not replace clinical planning. It is a visual communication tool: it aligns expectations, reduces the "let me think about it," and turns your treatment proposal into something concrete. Below is the step-by-step we use at dentraw LAB and what I learned watching dentists put it into practice.
What is the step-by-step to simulate a smile with AI?
- Take the right photo. Frontal, patient smiling naturally, teeth visible, good light, neutral background. A bad photo produces a bad simulation.
- Upload the photo to Preview on dentraw LAB. The upload is direct, with no installation and no technical setup.
- Generate the simulation. The AI applies the treatment outcome onto the patient's real photo in a few minutes.
- Review before showing. Check that the simulation looks natural and consistent with the case you planned clinically.
- Present during the visit. Show before and after side by side, explain the treatment plan, and only then present pricing.
Step 5 is where most dentists get it wrong: the simulation comes before the price, not after. When the patient sees the potential result first, the conversation stops being about cost and becomes about a decision.
Why does showing the simulation before quoting change the conversation?
Without a simulation, the patient compares your quote to a competitor's. With the simulation on screen, they compare their mouth today to the mouth they could have. That is a different conversation.
One experience I had at dentraw LAB: in the first months after launch, in April 2026, we received testimonials from dentists who closed treatments within the first week of using Preview. The pattern was always the same: they presented the simulation together with the proposal instead of sending a cold quote by message after the visit. Leads that had been cold for weeks started answering again once they saw their own smile transformed.
How should you present the simulation during the visit?
| Moment | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Before the proposal | Show before and after side by side and explain the plan | Talking about price before showing the image |
| While explaining | Make clear it is a visual reference, not a promised result | Saying "it will look exactly like this" |
| When presenting fees | Connect each treatment step to what the patient saw in the simulation | Sending a cold quote by message afterward |
| If the patient hesitates | Offer to send the simulation home so they can decide calmly | Pressuring them to commit on the spot |
Clinical accuracy matters here: the simulation is an approximate reference. Present it as a visual expectation aligned with your planning, and check your local dental board's current rules before using simulations in advertising.
What does an AI simulation not do?
- It does not replace diagnosis, clinical examination, or treatment planning.
- It does not guarantee results: the outcome depends on technique, materials, and the patient's biological response.
- It does not work well with a bad photo: a dark, tilted image or hidden teeth limits the AI.
- It does not decide for the patient: it helps them visualize, but the decision stays theirs, with time and information.
How much does it cost to simulate a smile with AI?
On dentraw LAB you start with a free trial. After that, each generation uses credits: images from R$3.90, videos from R$6.90, and there are monthly (R$333), quarterly (R$997), and annual (R$3,490) plans for dentists who simulate regularly. The logic is simple: pay per generation for occasional use, subscribe once simulation becomes part of your daily workflow. I broke down every plan in How much does dentraw LAB cost?.
If you want to see your next patient's smile transformed before you even build the proposal, start your free trial of dentraw LAB now.
FAQ
How long does it take to simulate a smile with AI? On dentraw LAB, from uploading the photo to a finished simulation takes just a few minutes. Total time depends on the input photo quality: the better the clinical photo, the better the simulation Preview generates.
Does an AI simulation replace clinical planning? No. The simulation is a visual communication tool to align expectations with the patient. Diagnosis, planning, and treatment indication remain the dentist's responsibility.
Can I promise the patient the result will match the simulation? No. The simulation is an approximate visual reference, not a guarantee of clinical outcome. Make that clear during the presentation and check your local dental board's current rules on advertising.
What photo works best for a smile simulation? A frontal, well-lit photo with the patient smiling naturally and teeth visible. Dark, tilted, or shadowed photos reduce simulation quality.
How much does it cost to simulate a smile with AI on dentraw LAB? You can start with a free trial. After that, each simulation uses credits: images from R$3.90, with monthly, quarterly, and annual plans for regular use.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to simulate a smile with AI?
On dentraw LAB, from uploading the photo to a finished simulation takes just a few minutes. Total time depends on the input photo quality: the better the clinical photo, the better the simulation Preview generates.
Does an AI simulation replace clinical planning?
No. The simulation is a visual communication tool to align expectations with the patient. Diagnosis, planning, and treatment indication remain the dentist's responsibility.
Can I promise the patient the result will match the simulation?
No. The simulation is an approximate visual reference, not a guarantee of clinical outcome. Make that clear during the presentation and check your local dental board's current rules on advertising.
What photo works best for a smile simulation?
A frontal, well-lit photo with the patient smiling naturally and teeth visible. Dark, tilted, or shadowed photos reduce simulation quality.
How much does it cost to simulate a smile with AI on dentraw LAB?
You can start with a free trial. After that, each simulation uses credits: images from R$3.90, with monthly, quarterly, and annual plans for regular use.