AI for Dentists
What is the best AI for smile simulation in 2026?
Gabriel Gimenez · Published on September 19, 2026
The best AI for smile simulation in 2026 is the one that generates the preview in seconds, in front of the patient, using the camera you already have in the practice, with no scanner, no expensive planning software and no waiting days for a lab to respond. In practice, that is exactly what dentraw LAB's Preview does: you photograph the patient, the AI generates the treatment simulation on the spot and you present it together with the proposal.
I am Gabriel Gimenez, co-founder of dentraw LAB together with Carlos Herton, and I say this after testing the main options on the market and hearing from hundreds of dentists through our support. The criterion that defines "the best" is not the prettiest AI in a demo, it is the one the dentist actually uses every week. Below I explain how to compare the options and why we arrived at Preview's current design.
What does a good smile simulation AI need to have?
After talking with dentists who use simulation every day, I boil the criteria down to five points:
- Real speed: the simulation comes out in seconds, during the appointment, not in days.
- Zero extra equipment: it works with a phone photo or a regular clinical camera.
- Believable result: the patient recognizes their own face in the simulation, with no artificial look.
- Predictable cost: clear per-use pricing or subscription, no hidden per-image fees.
- Continuous use: it fits the routine, not just big veneer cases.
If the tool fails on one of these five, it becomes a drawer: the dentist tries it once and abandons it.
What options are available in 2026?
| Solution type | Examples | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning software with scanner | DSD workflows with intraoral scanning | Precision for complex cases | High cost, learning curve, equipment dependent |
| Generic AI editing apps | filters and photo editors | Low price | They don't understand dental anatomy, artificial results |
| AI specialized in dentistry | dentraw LAB's Preview | Simulation in seconds, built for the appointment | Focused on communication, does not replace clinical planning |
The three approaches do not compete with each other in complex rehabilitation cases. The problem is that, for most practices, the scanner and planning software stay restricted to a handful of cases per month. Specialized AI simulation covers the day to day: whitening, veneers, diastema closure, smile harmonization.
Why was dentraw LAB's Preview designed this way?
When Carlos and I started dentraw LAB, the mistake I saw most often was the dentist buying an expensive simulation tool and using it twice. The reason was always the same: the workflow was too long to fit into a 40-minute appointment. So our product decision was radical: the simulation has to come out before the patient gets up from the chair.
In Preview, the workflow is this:
- You take a photo of the patient smiling, with the practice's phone.
- You send it to dentraw LAB straight from the browser.
- The AI generates the smile simulation in seconds.
- You show it on screen and present the proposal in the same appointment.
One case that shaped my learning: in the first weeks after launch, in April 2026, a dentist told our support team he closed the treatment in the very first appointment where he used Preview, because the patient stopped asking "to think about it". What changed was not his clinical technique, it was the patient finally being able to picture the result.
How much does it cost to simulate a smile with AI?
dentraw LAB's pricing logic is simple: you don't pay for equipment or a heavy annual license, you pay for usage. You start with a free trial, then you can subscribe (monthly, quarterly or annual) or use pay-as-you-go credits for a one-off generation. I detailed every option in the article How much does dentraw LAB cost?.
Compared to the cost of an intraoral scanner plus planning software, the difference is an order of magnitude. The honest comparison is: for full rehabilitation cases, the scanner workflow still makes sense; for presenting the treatment in the first appointment, specialized AI solves it at a fraction of the cost and time.
Does AI simulation replace clinical planning?
No, and I make a point of saying this every time I present dentraw LAB. Simulation is a communication tool: it helps the patient visualize a possibility and make the decision. Diagnosis, the diagnostic wax-up, the mock-up and case planning remain the dentist's clinical work.
One sentence sums it up: AI simulation sells the vision of the treatment; clinical planning delivers the treatment. Confusing the two creates wrong expectations in the patient, and wrong expectations are the origin of almost every dissatisfaction in cosmetic cases.
On disclosure: using the simulation inside the appointment is one thing, publishing before-and-after images on social media is another. Dental advertising rules have specific provisions for this in each jurisdiction, so I recommend checking the current regulation before using simulations in marketing pieces.
FAQ
What is the best AI to simulate a smile before treatment? The best one generates the simulation in seconds, in front of the patient, without requiring extra equipment. dentraw LAB's Preview does this from a photo taken right in the practice.
Does AI simulation replace the diagnostic wax-up? No. Simulation is a communication and case acceptance tool. Clinical planning, the wax-up and the mock-up remain part of the dentist's work.
How much does it cost to use dentraw LAB's Preview? You start with a free trial. After that there are monthly, quarterly and annual plans, plus pay-as-you-go credits for occasional use.
Can I show the simulation to the patient in the same appointment? Yes, and that is exactly what Preview was designed for. You photograph the patient, generate the simulation in seconds and present it together with the treatment proposal.
Is AI smile simulation allowed under dental advertising rules? Using simulations in patient communication is common, but publishing before-and-after images in advertising follows specific rules. I recommend checking the current regulation in your jurisdiction before publishing.
If you want to test in practice the criterion that matters most, which is the simulation coming out before the patient gets up from the chair, start your free trial of dentraw LAB's Preview now.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI to simulate a smile before treatment?
The best one generates the simulation in seconds, in front of the patient, without requiring extra equipment. dentraw LAB's Preview does this from a photo taken right in the practice.
Does AI simulation replace the diagnostic wax-up?
No. Simulation is a communication and case acceptance tool. Clinical planning, the wax-up and the mock-up remain part of the dentist's work.
How much does it cost to use dentraw LAB's Preview?
You start with a free trial. After that there are monthly, quarterly and annual plans, plus pay-as-you-go credits for occasional use.
Can I show the simulation to the patient in the same appointment?
Yes, and that is exactly what Preview was designed for. You photograph the patient, generate the simulation in seconds and present it together with the treatment proposal.
Is AI smile simulation allowed under dental advertising rules?
Using simulations in patient communication is common, but publishing before-and-after images in advertising follows specific rules. I recommend checking the current regulation in your jurisdiction before publishing.