← All explanationsDental mock-up

How can a planned tooth shape be tried out?

A dental mock-up temporarily transfers a planned tooth shape into the mouth. It can help assess length, proportions and interaction with lips and speech. This is a planning aid, not a promise of an identical final result.

For dental trainees & teams

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Discuss form first

Photographs, models or scans may support planning. A proposed shape should fit the findings and personal wishes.

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Try it in the mouth

A mock-up makes a possible shape visible inside the mouth. Lip movement, speech and personal impressions can inform discussion.

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Understand the limits

Preview material differs from the final restoration. Colour, translucency, tissues and necessary preparation cannot be fully predicted.

Watch the short film Download infographic (German)

At a glance

What is tested?

A possible tooth shape in relation to the mouth, lips and speech.

Who may benefit?

Selected planned shape changes where a meaningful try-in is feasible.

What follows?

Assessment and refinement of the plan, with separate consent for actual treatment.

Knowledge in motion

Explained in 36 seconds.

Three steps. Straight to the point.
Explanations are also shown on screen.

Short film (German): How can a planned tooth shape be tried out?

Open the short film directly: Landscape film (MP4, German) · Portrait film (MP4, German)

Silent film in German · English explanations in the three views above

Often confused

Wax-up or mock-up?

A wax-up plans a shape on a model, traditionally in wax or digitally. A mock-up temporarily tests that plan in the mouth.

Quick answers

Must teeth always be prepared first?

An additive diagnostic mock-up can be tried over existing teeth. Feasibility depends on position and planned form; later treatment steps need separate explanation.

Is a mock-up the final restoration?

No. It is used to test and agree a plan.

Does it show exactly how ceramic will look?

It primarily illustrates shape and proportions. Optical properties of the final ceramic are only partly reproduced.

At the practice

For your consultation

A question to discuss with Dr. med. dent. Niusha Barahmand Pour:

What can a preview show in my plan, and which limitations should I understand?

At the practice, findings, personal wishes and possible next steps are discussed through a consultation and examination.

A clear idea of natural form and proportion can support a useful planning discussion.

Discuss tooth shape and preferencesChoose an appointment on Doctolib

Meet Dr. med. dent. Niusha Barahmand Pour

Learning for dental trainees & teamsUnderstand clinical terms and build your knowledge

Build on the simple explanation with clinical terms, key distinctions and a knowledge question.

Additive: Built by adding material.
Wax-up: Model-based design of a possible tooth shape.
Phonetics: Speech sound production, which can be affected by tooth shape and position.

Know the difference

A digital photograph simulation and an intraoral mock-up provide different information. Neither replaces clinical examination.

Knowledge questionWhich statement is correct?

This question supports learning. It does not assess personal symptoms.

A mock-up supports planning and discussion.
It guarantees the exact final colour.
It is always the final ceramic restoration.

Show answer and explanation

A mock-up supports planning and discussion.

The preview helps discussion but remains a simplified representation.

Sources for further learning

Sources and context

Editorial research: 23 October 2026. This explanation covers general principles and does not replace a personal examination. Suitable treatment is discussed following individual assessment.