How digital dentistry makes better smiles

How digital dentistry makes better smiles

by | Jul 15, 2025 | Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Treatment, New Dental Technology

Cold, gooey impression material, long appointments, and weeks of waiting for results that might still need adjusting—this was the reality of traditional dental techniques used for many years. It was often messy, uncomfortable, and full of uncertainty, especially when multiple visits were required just to get the fit or shade right. We went through that because, at the time, it was the best we had. But thankfully, dentistry has moved on.

These days, when you visit a modern clinic like Leeming Dental, the experience is entirely different. Digital dentistry uses clean 3D scans, advanced smile design software, and in-house milling to deliver faster, more precise, and far more comfortable care. With fewer appointments and no messy moulds, you can often walk out with beautifully natural results—all in a single visit.

Today, patients like you are reclaiming their confidence with beautiful, healthy smiles—often in just one visit. Whether it’s a single dark tooth or a full smile makeover, digital tools can offer faster, more precise, and more comfortable care than ever before.

Let’s explore how cutting-edge digital dentistry works, why it’s worth considering, and how it could be the key to your most confident smile yet.

The future of dentistry is digital—and it’s built around you

In the past, restoring a tooth meant uncomfortable impressions, unpleasant temporary solutions that you had to tolerate, and waiting weeks for a lab to finish your crown or veneer.

Not anymore.

Modern dental clinics now use high-definition intraoral scanners, digital smile design, 3D printing, and in-house milling systems like CEREC to streamline everything, giving you:

CEREC
  • ✔ Faster results
  • ✔ Better fit and comfort
  • ✔ Natural-looking aesthetics
  • ✔ Minimally invasive procedures
  • ✔ A smile that lasts

Instead of guesswork or old-fashioned moulds, digital scanners create an ultra-accurate image of your teeth. This allows your dentist to virtually design the ideal shape, shade, and fit for your restoration, right down to the finest detail.

What digital dentistry can do for you

Nobody wishes this on anyone—but one day, you might find yourself in a position like this. You walk into the clinic with one, or perhaps several, concerns: a dark front tooth, worn molars, ageing restorations, and a smile you’ve stopped showing. In the past, this would have meant multiple appointments, messy impressions, and months of treatment. But thanks to digital dentistry, the process is now faster, smoother, and far more empowering.

In clinics that have embraced modern technology, such a patient may receive:

Exocad

A full digital scan (no messy impressions!) using a high-definition intraoral scanner

Custom-designed veneers, crowns, bridges, and overlays using digital smile design software

3D-printed models for accurate fitting and try-ins—giving both patient and dentist a tangible preview before final restorations

Same-day restorations, milled in-house from multi-layer zirconia—a strong, long-lasting ceramic that mimics natural tooth structure

A beautifully restored smile—without long delays, discomfort, or compromise

What this integration of 3D printing and chairside milling means is that every step of the process is precise, personalised, and efficient. It’s not just faster—it’s better.

Precision-built for lasting health

While digital restorations are undeniably stunning, they also serve a deeper purpose: restoring function and preserving your natural teeth.

Here’s how:

Precision fit: Poor-fitting restorations can wear down other teeth or irritate gums. Digital designs ensure every crown, veneer, or bridge fits like a glove.

Conservative treatment: Digital tools allow for minimal tooth preparation, meaning more of your natural tooth is preserved.

Faster recovery: Fewer appointments and less time in the chair means less stress on your schedule and your mouth.

Long-term protection: A proper bite and strong materials like multi-layer zirconia help prevent future damage or complications.

This technology doesn’t just transform smiles—it protects them.

Why choose a clinic that uses digital dentistry?

Choosing a modern dental clinic isn’t just about having the latest gadgets—it’s about choosing a better experience for yourself.

Clinics with digital dentistry offer:

Exocad
  • Same-day smile makeovers
  • Consistent, predictable results
  • More comfort and less anxiety
  • Stronger, longer-lasting materials
  • A more collaborative approach to your care

You’ll see your smile designed in 3D before anything is done. You’ll feel involved, informed, and in control. And you’ll walk away with a smile that’s not only beautiful, but built to last.

Your smile deserves modern care—take the first step today

Don’t settle for outdated treatments, uncomfortable processes, or a smile that doesn’t feel like “you.” You can do so much better!

If you’ve been thinking about improving your smile, whether it’s one tooth or a full transformation, now is the time to explore what digital dentistry can offer.

After dental treatment smile
  • Faster results
  • Less discomfort
  • Natural-looking beauty
  • Stronger, healthier teeth

Book a consultation with your trusted dentist and discover how modern care can make all the difference—not just in how you look, but how you feel.

It’s your turn to smile with confidence. Let digital dentistry get you there.

Can 3D printed veneers fast-track your smile?

Can 3D printed veneers fast-track your smile?

by | Apr 21, 2025 | Cosmetic Dentistry, New Dental Technology, Oral Conditions and Issues

3D printed veneers can replicate the translucency and contours of natural teeth, resulting in a realistic and harmonious smile.

Imagine a smile so radiant, it boosts your confidence from the inside out! You might think that kind of transformation takes weeks of dental appointments, but you’re probably wrong. Thanks to the wonders of digital dentistry, 3D printed veneers can give you a modern smile makeover faster than ever, often in just one visit!

Faster, more precise, and conserving more of your natural tooth material, 3D printed veneers effectively transform a smile in less time than traditional methods.

What exactly are 3D printed veneers?

3D printed veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made shells created using advanced digital dentistry and 3D printing technology to transform teeth affected by discolouration, chips, gaps, or mild misalignment.

Made from durable, biocompatible materials and designed from highly precise digital scans of your mouth, these veneers offer a major advantage over traditional options. While conventional veneers often require multiple appointments and weeks of off-site lab work, 3D printed veneers can be designed, manufactured, and permanently bonded in a single visit. This offers a faster, more accurate, and minimally invasive solution for achieving a beautiful, natural-looking smile.

This image illustrates how 3D printed veneers can be tailored to achieve a noticeably whiter appearance for aesthetic preferences.
3D printed veneers
Cosmetic purpose

Are 3D printed veneers right for you?

3D printed veneers are ideal for individuals with mild to moderate cosmetic concerns, such as:

3D printed veneers
  • Tooth discolouration or staining that doesn’t respond to whitening
  • Small gaps between teeth (diastema)
  • Minor misalignment or crowding
  • Uneven or irregularly shaped teeth
  • Worn-down or short teeth
  • Chipped or slightly cracked teeth
  • Slightly rotated teeth

These veneers are typically recommended for patients with healthy teeth and gums who are looking to enhance their smile without undergoing major restorative or orthodontic treatments.

Conveniently 3D printed in-house

For a beautiful smile without the long wait, consider inhouse 3D printed veneers. Dental clinics with an onsite laboratory ensure a streamlined process, blending precision and efficiency for stunning results. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Cosmetic consultation

Your smile transformation begins with a personalised cosmetic consultation. During this visit, your dental team conducts a thorough examination to assess your overall oral health and determine whether you’re a good candidate for no-prep or minimal-prep veneers—a conservative approach that typically involves little to no enamel removal, helping preserve your natural teeth.

Step 2: Dental photographs and digital impressions

Next, a series of high-quality photographs is taken from multiple angles to capture your facial features, smile line, and tooth proportions. Then, using a high-definition intraoral scanner, your dentist captures precise digital impressions of your teeth. This advanced digital workflow ensures greater comfort, accuracy, and efficiency from the very start.

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Step 3: Facial analysis and smile design

With all the data collected, your new smile is digitally crafted using advanced 3D design software such as exocad Smile Creator. This stage is where art meets science, as the dental team designs a smile that harmonises beautifully with your unique facial features.

The process includes:

  • Analysing facial structure, lip movement, and how your teeth appear when you speak or smile
  • Designing the ideal size, shape, and position of each veneer
  • Generating a digital preview of your future smile for review

Seeing the big reveal of your expected result before treatment begins, means you’ll have the opportunity to offer feedback before moving forward. Having the chance to engage with a detailed 3D preview ensures your final result aligns with your goals and expectations.

3D Smile Design Software
Step 4: 3D printing the veneers

Once the smile design is finalised, it’s sent to a high-resolution 3D printer (e.g., Sprintray Pro 55S). The veneers are printed using a hybrid ceramic resin, carefully selected for its strength, flexibility, and lifelike translucency, closely resembling natural teeth.

This in-house digital workflow dramatically speeds up the process. Your custom veneers can be ready in as little as 45 minutes. Traditional veneers, in contrast, often take weeks for fabrication and transport.

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Step 5: Post-processing

After printing, your veneers undergo a meticulous post-processing workflow to enhance their strength, appearance, and biocompatibility.

Left Image

Right Image

  • Cleaning: Any residual resin is thoroughly washed using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and a shaker, and then it is dried using compressed air.
  • Candy coating: A thin layer of the same resin used for the print is applied to the surface of the veneers to enhance translucency and provide a smooth, glossy finish.

  • Curing: The candy-coated veneers are placed in a UV curing unit (e.g, Sprintray ProCure 2) to fully harden the material, maximising durability and longevity.
  • Characterisation: To achieve a lifelike finish, tooth-like features such as translucency, texture, and shading are added using custom stains and glaze.
  • Disinfection: The final restorations are disinfected to ensure hygiene and patient safety before placement.

3D Smile Design Software
Step 6: Veneer placement

Once your veneers are fully prepared, they’re carefully bonded to your teeth:

  • The tooth surface is gently roughened to enhance adhesion without removing significant enamel.
  • A thin layer of dental adhesive is applied to the inner surface of each veneer.
  • The veneers are positioned precisely and bonded using a dental curing light.
  • Final refinements are made to perfect the fit, bite, and overall appearance.

This approach is maximally conservative, preserving your natural tooth structure while delivering an instantly transformed smile.

Step 7: Final results

With your newly aligned, natural-looking smile complementing your facial features, it all feels as perfect as it looks. This method requires minimal alteration to your natural teeth, and lets you walk out with a beautifully functional, aesthetic enhancement—achieved quickly, comfortably, and confidently.

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Right Image

Benefits of 3D printed veneers

  • Faster turnaround: From digital design to final placement, the entire process can often be completed in a single appointment.
  • Minimally invasive: These veneers typically require little to no enamel removal, helping preserve your natural tooth structure.
  • High aesthetic precision: Advanced 3D software ensures optimal shape, size, and alignment tailored to your facial features.
  • Natural appearance: Hybrid ceramic resin mimics the translucency, texture, and colour depth of real teeth for a lifelike result.
  • Patient-centric workflow: Digital smile previews allow you to see the design before fabrication, ensuring confidence in the final result.
  • Enhanced comfort: Digital impressions eliminate the need for messy traditional moulds, making the process more comfortable.
  • Greater efficiency: In-house design and printing reduce dependency on external labs, lowering costs and delays.

How would you like your smile transformed?

Just one visit to achieve the radiant, confident smile you’ve always wanted? It could be an option with 3D printed veneers. This marvellous technology innovation is revolutionising smile makeovers by combining cutting-edge digital design, premium materials, and same-day production, right in the dental clinic.

With less time in the chair and minimal interruption to your busy life, you can enjoy faster, more precise, and beautifully natural results.

3D printed veneers
3D printed veneers
3D printed veneers
3D printed veneers can address minor spacing issues, such as diastema (gap between teeth), and contribute to improved dental function.

To find out if 3D printed veneers are right for you, book a consultation with a trusted digital dentistry provider. They’ll assess your goals, guide you through the process, and help you take the first step toward a brighter, more confident you.