A way of planning your new smile on screen, using photos of your face and teeth, so you can see what the result could look like before any treatment begins. It takes the guesswork out of changing your smile.
Tell us when suits and we will call you back to arrange it. No obligation.
Treatment Overview
What Is Digital Smile Design?
Digital Smile Design is a way of planning a new smile before any treatment starts. We take photos of your face, your lips and your teeth, then use computer software to design how your teeth could look and show you that design on screen. The idea is simple: you get to see where we are heading, and have a say in it, rather than hoping for the best and finding out at the end.
It is a planning tool, not a treatment in itself. Think of it as the design stage that sits at the front of bigger cosmetic or rebuilding work. On its own it does not change your teeth. What it does is shape the plan for whatever comes next, whether that is veneers (thin shells over the front of a tooth), some composite bonding (tooth-coloured material shaped onto the tooth), a full smile makeover, or a larger full mouth rehabilitation.
Planning a smile this way has real advantages. We design around your whole face, not just one tooth, so the shape, length and colour suit you and look balanced. We can show you the design and adjust it while it is still just a picture, which is the cheapest and easiest time to change your mind. And because the plan is worked out in detail first, the treatment itself tends to run more smoothly.
Everything is discussed and agreed with you before any treatment is booked. You get a clear idea of what is involved and what it costs, in writing, before you commit to anything.
Digital smile planning suits you if:
You are thinking about veneers, bonding or a smile makeover
You want to see the result before you commit
You are nervous about changing your smile and want more certainty
You have a rough idea of what you want but struggle to picture it
You have an event coming up and want to plan it properly
You want a bigger rebuild planned carefully from the start
What it helps us get right:
The shape and length of your teeth
How even and balanced they look
The colour and shade that suits your face
How your smile sits with your lips and gums
Which treatments would actually get you there
The order and rough cost of the work
Book your appointment
New patient examination £92
Digital smile planning is part of a consultation for cosmetic or rebuilding work. Including any X-rays you need.
Before anything else, we ask what you would change about your smile and what you are hoping for. Bring a photo of a smile you like if it helps. If you are nervous, tell us, and it changes how we do things.
02
We take your photos and records
We take a set of photos of your face and teeth, and where useful a digital scan or moulds. These are what the design is built from, so we take a little time over them.
03
We design your smile on screen
Using the photos and software, we design how your teeth could look, then show it to you. This is your chance to react to it and ask for changes while it is still just a picture.
04
A written plan and a price
Once you are happy with the design, we set out the treatment that would achieve it, what each part costs and how long it takes. No pressure. You decide from there.
Longer appointments, so we can talk through your concerns and give you a break if you need one.
Almost pain-free injections
The Wand numbs you without the big needle or the sting. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
Digital X-rays
We diagnose faster, more accurately and with far less radiation than older film.
A hand to hold
Bring a partner in, or hold a nurse's hand. If you ever need us, we respond the same day.
About Waterside Dental
Your private dental practicein Hythe.
Waterside Dental is a private practice in Hythe, owned and led by principal dentist Dr Nikos Louskos since 2017. It has recently been refurbished to feel more like home than a clinic, and is run by a small, hand-picked team — so you'll always see a familiar face.
Care here is unhurried and patient-led. Appointments are longer so concerns can be talked through properly, treatment is explained in plain language, and nothing is rushed — with breaks during longer procedures whenever you need them.
We welcome private patients from Hythe and across Southampton — whether you're registering as a new patient or visiting for a single course of treatment while staying with your current dentist.
"I firmly believe that dentistry doesn't have to be unpleasant or scary, and that often it can be life-changing."
DR NIKOS LOUSKOS
Our Principal Dentist
Meet Dr NikosLouskos.
DDS · MSc Endodontics · GDC No. 102626
Principal dentist and practice owner, with a special interest in endodontics.
Dr Nikos Louskos qualified in Athens in 2005 and moved to the UK in 2006. He worked as an associate at Waterside before taking ownership of the practice in 2017.
In 2016 he completed a Master's in Endodontic Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He accepts referrals for complex root canal cases, which he treats under a microscope, and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry.
Nobody wants surprises after a dental visit. You'll get an itemised treatment plan with exact costs before anything begins, plus monthly payment options to spread the cost.
Finance is provided by Tabeo and is interest-bearing from 9.9% APR. Practice-plan discounts apply to selected treatments — full terms are listed on the Fees and Plans pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patientsask us.
A few of the things patients ask us most often. If your question isn't here, just get in touch — we're happy to talk it through.
It is a way of planning a new smile using photos of your face and teeth and some computer software. It lets us design how your teeth could look and, just as importantly, lets you see the result before you commit to any treatment. It is a planning tool, not a treatment on its own, so it sits at the start of bigger cosmetic or rebuilding work.
It is planning. On its own it does not change your teeth. What it does is design and agree the result first, so the treatment that follows, such as veneers, bonding or a smile makeover, is working towards something you have already seen and approved.
Yes, that is the whole point. We show you the design on screen so you can see the shape, length and colour before any treatment starts, and ask for changes while it is still just a picture.
It gives you a very good picture of where we are heading, but a design on a screen is a plan, not a promise down to the last detail. Teeth are natural things and we work within what suits your mouth. We will always be honest about what is realistically achievable before you start.
It depends on what you want to change. It might lead to veneers, some composite bonding, a full smile makeover, or a larger full mouth rehabilitation. The design helps you and us agree which of these actually gets you the smile you are after.
The design is part of planning your treatment, so the cost depends on the work you go on to have. There is no separate fixed price for the design. After your consultation you get a written plan with the exact cost of every stage. A new patient examination, where the process starts, is £92.
No. There is no obligation. Seeing the design is exactly how some people decide the time is right, and how others decide to wait or to do less than they first thought. Either is fine. You are never booked in for anything until you say so.
A lot. For many nervous patients, the worry is not knowing how they will end up. Being able to see and shape the result first, before anything is done, takes a lot of that uncertainty away. And the same gentle care runs through everything here: longer appointments and The Wand for almost pain-free injections.
Whether you'd like to book or just have a question about treatment, send us a message and a member of the team will get back to you — the same day wherever we can.
