Smile Design and Cosmetic Workup in Mount Vernon, WA
A smile design is the planning step that happens before any cosmetic dental work begins. It uses photos, digital scans, and sometimes a physical wax model to map out what your new smile will look like. At Perry Family Dentistry in Mount Vernon, Dr. Blake J. Perry builds every major cosmetic case around this process so you see the result before he starts.
If you are thinking about veneers, a full smile makeover, or any combination of cosmetic procedures, the workup gives you a clear picture of the final product. You approve the shape, shade, and overall look before any prep touches your teeth.
Call (360) 424-3133 to schedule a smile design consultation, or request a free SmileVirtual video consult from home.
What is a smile design?
A smile design is a structured planning process that your dentist uses to map cosmetic changes before any real work begins. Instead of jumping straight to veneers or crowns, the dentist first captures detailed records of your teeth, gums, face, and bite. Those records feed into a design phase where tooth shape, length, width, shade, and gum line are all adjusted on screen or in a physical model.
The goal is to show you a realistic preview. That way you can approve, adjust, or rethink the plan before your teeth are ever touched. It removes the guesswork that makes big cosmetic decisions feel risky.
Dr. Perry uses this approach for any case involving two or more cosmetic procedures. Single-tooth fixes like a chip repair or whitening do not need a full workup. But when you are changing the shape, alignment, or shade of several teeth at once, smile design keeps the final result predictable.
What does the cosmetic workup include?
The workup is the data-gathering phase of smile design. Dr. Perry collects everything he needs to build your plan in one appointment that runs about 60 to 90 minutes. Here is what that session covers.
High-resolution photos
Dr. Perry takes a series of close-up and full-face photos. These capture your tooth shape, gum line, lip line, and facial proportions from multiple angles. The photos help him design teeth that fit your face, not just your mouth.
Digital scans
An intraoral scanner creates a 3D model of your teeth and bite. The scan replaces the old putty impressions and gives Dr. Perry a precise digital map to work from. He uses this data to check spacing, alignment, and how your top and bottom teeth meet.
Diagnostic waxup
For more involved cases, Dr. Perry sends the scan data to a lab that builds a physical wax model of your proposed new smile. You hold the model in your hands and see the shape and size of each tooth before a single one is prepped. Some offices skip this step. Dr. Perry includes it when the case calls for it because a physical model catches problems that a screen image might miss.
Bite analysis
Dr. Perry checks how your upper and lower teeth come together under normal chewing forces. Cosmetic changes that look great but ignore the bite can lead to cracking, wear, or discomfort down the road. This step protects your investment.
Who needs a smile design?
Not every cosmetic patient needs a full workup. A single whitening session or a small bonding repair does not require this level of planning. Smile design is built for bigger cases where several teeth change at once.
You likely need a smile design if:
- You want veneers on four or more front teeth
- You are planning a full smile makeover that combines whitening, veneers, and crowns
- You want to close gaps, fix alignment, and change shade in the same plan
- Your case involves teeth in both the upper and lower arches
- You want to see and approve the final look before committing
Dr. Perry also recommends the workup for patients who feel unsure about what cosmetic work can actually achieve. Seeing a preview removes the pressure of guessing and lets you make a confident decision. The preview removes doubt and gives you a concrete picture to react to, which is easier than describing a result in words.
How much does a smile design cost?
The cost of a cosmetic workup depends on what it includes. A basic session with photos and digital scans may run $150 to $300. A full workup with a diagnostic waxup model typically runs $300 to $800, depending on the number of teeth involved.
In many cases, the cost of the workup is credited toward your treatment if you move forward with the plan. Dr. Perry explains this during the consultation so you know the terms before starting.
Smile design is a planning tool, not a billable procedure in most insurance terms. Perry Family Dentistry is out-of-network with all insurance carriers. The office accepts assignment of benefits and files claims for any covered services on your behalf.
Payment options
Perry Family Dentistry offers several ways to pay for your cosmetic workup and the treatment that follows:
- Cherry plans with 0% APR and no hard credit check
- CareCredit
- Sunbit
- In-house payment plans
- A dental savings plan for patients without insurance
Why does smile design matter?
Smile design protects you from two things: surprise results and wasted money. Without a preview step, cosmetic work relies on a conversation between you and your dentist. You describe what you want. He interprets it. That gap between words and reality is where disappointment happens.
With a workup, you see the proposed result in a photo, a model, or both. You point to what you like and what you want changed. Dr. Perry adjusts the plan until you approve it. Only then does the actual treatment start.
This process also helps Dr. Perry catch structural issues early. If a tooth needs a crown for strength but you only asked for a veneer, the workup reveals that before any prep. If gum tissue needs reshaping to make the teeth look even, it shows up in the model rather than mid-procedure.
What happens after the workup is done?
Once Dr. Perry finishes the workup, he sits down with you and walks through the design. You see photos, the 3D model, and if applicable the wax model of your proposed smile. This is your chance to point at what you like and flag what you want changed.
Dr. Perry then builds a written treatment plan that lists each step in order. It includes which procedures you need, how many visits each takes, the total timeline from start to finish, and the cost of every part. There are no hidden steps and no surprise fees.
For complex cases, the plan may include a mix of whitening, veneers, crowns, bonding, or gum work done in a staged sequence. Dr. Perry explains which order makes the most clinical sense and why. Some steps need to happen before others. For example, he may want to whiten your teeth before placing veneers so the veneer shade matches your brightest natural color.
If you want changes to the design, he adjusts it before moving on. Nothing starts until you sign off. That approval step is what makes smile design different from a dentist who jumps straight to prep.
Why choose Perry Family Dentistry for smile design?
Kois Center trained
Dr. Perry completed training at the Kois Center for Dental Excellence in Seattle, where the focus is evidence-based treatment planning. That training shapes how he runs every workup: health first, then aesthetics.
20+ years of cosmetic and implant work
Dr. Blake J. Perry graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2002. He has planned and completed complex cosmetic cases for over two decades, combining veneers, crowns, whitening, and alignment work into single plans.
SmileVirtual as a first step
Before you commit to a full workup, you can get a preview of Dr. Perry’s thinking through SmileVirtual. Upload a photo of your smile, and he sends back his initial thoughts. No other practice in Mount Vernon offers this starting point.
All work done in-house
Dr. Perry handles veneers, crowns, Invisalign, whitening, bonding, and implant placement under one roof. That means the plan your workup produces can be completed without referrals to outside offices. One dentist oversees your case from design to final polish.
Sedation for anxious patients
Some patients feel nervous about committing to a big cosmetic plan. If dental anxiety has held you back, Perry Family Dentistry offers sedation through DOCS Education-trained methods. Sedation helps you stay calm during both the workup session and the treatment appointments that follow.
Financing that fits the plan
Smile design cases often involve multiple procedures with a higher total cost. Cherry payment plans let you split the bill with no hard credit check and 0% APR for those who qualify. CareCredit, Sunbit, and in-house payment plans are also on the table. The team builds the financial side into the plan so you know the monthly number before work starts.
Smile design in Mount Vernon and Skagit Valley
Perry Family Dentistry sits at 2017 Continental Pl #9, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Patients come from across Skagit Valley, including Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Stanwood, and Arlington.
The office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and closes Friday through Sunday.
Voters have named Perry Family Dentistry the Best Dental Clinic in Skagit Valley for 7 straight years through the community choice award. Spanish-speaking staff are part of the team for families who prefer their first language.
To schedule a smile design consultation with Dr. Perry, call (360) 424-3133 or book online. You can also start with a free SmileVirtual consult and get Dr. Perry’s initial take from home before committing to a full workup appointment.
