A member of the DSD Planning Center team designs the DSD Upper for a client's patient.
By Tatiana Coachman
⋅ 3 min read
⋅ 17 May 2024
You’re all set up to purchase products from the DSD Planning Center and ready to begin your first case – but do you know what you need to order?
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about one of the most popular products from the DSD Planning Center: the ‘DSD Upper’, and how and why to use it in your simple cases.
What is the DSD Upper?
The DSD Upper is a digital wax-up of your patient’s upper arch that is created after a facially driven, functional and clinical analysis.
Ordering the DSD Upper gives you simulations and images that you can use to make your own patient diagnosis and create your treatment plan, as well as explain the treatment to your patient and motivate them. You can also use them to explain your goals for the case to your team.
Who is the DSD Upper a good fit for?
It’s important to highlight that the DSD Upper is the perfect product for simpler cases in which you require cosmetic finishing. For example, if you need six veneers or gingival recontouring. Put simply, it’s for cases where the patient’s situation is satisfactory and you need to add the final touches.
For cases in which the patient’s needs are greater, or which require you to treat both the upper and lower arches, the DSD Upper and Lower is the recommended product. The DSD Upper and Lower also includes the lower arch in the design and is the right choice when you need a more comprehensive approach.
When should I buy the DSD Upper?
You will typically need to order the DSD Upper between the patient’s first and second appointments.
The DSD Upper is what we refer to as a pre-case acceptance product, which means that you need to order it before you present your treatment plan to your patient.
In the first appointment you will gather all the patient documentation such as scans, videos and photos, then you upload the records to the case on the DSD website so that we can prepare the files and presentations you need to present your treatment to the patient in their second appointment.
Please note that the digital upper mockup file is delivered with this product but the manufactured silicone key is not included.
A patient wears the DSD Motivational Mock up.
How much does the DSD Upper cost?
The price of the DSD Upper depends on your membership level with DSD. You can see the price of the DSD Upper for you by looking at the product page for the DSD Upper when you are logged into the DSD website.
What do you need to send us to order the DSD Upper?
The photos and videos taken following the DSD Photo and Video Protocol. This is very important as this product is a facially driven wax-up and we require good quality facial information to help us develop a great outcome for your patient.
Intraoral scans of the upper and lower arches, and of the occlusion.
Other records you have: panoramic, X-rays, CBCT, etc. are optional.
Any further clinical information relevant to the case.
Work with the DSD Planning Center
Don't have access to the DSD Planning Center? Our DSD Provider course is your first step. Find out more by exploring the course guide or talking to an advisor.
How do I purchase the DSD Upper?
Sign in to your account on the Digital Smile Design website and navigate to the DSD Planning Center & Lab store.
Find the DSD Upper product page to purchase.
What will you receive when you order the DSD Upper?
When you order the DSD Upper you will receive four digital files.
The first of these is the DSD PowerPoint presentation. This includes all the most important images that you can use to communicate with your clients and show them the possible outcome for the case.
Apart from this you will have three STL files:
The pre-treatment STL file. In this file we can see the original model overlapped with our design.
The post-treatment STL file. In this file we overlap our ideal design and then trim the model digitally so you can appreciate the final outcome.
The Motivational Mock up STL file. In this file we bring the design slightly buccal to make it completely additive.
You can then print this upper mock up model and build the silicone key (or ask us to manufacture it for you in the DSD Lab) and place the Motivational Mock up in the patient for the smile test drive.
Work with the DSD Planning Center
The DSD Planning Center team is always on hand if you need further support to understand or order cases.
If you don’t have access to the DSD Planning Center yet but would like to work with us, the DSD Provider course is your first step. As a participant you will not only learn the strategies you need to start implementing DSD in your dental office but also gain access to the DSD Planning Center along with a complimentary design product and free onboarding training.
We recommend exploring our course guide or talking to an advisor to find out more about the DSD Provider course and how it can support your smile design and treatment planning.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay updated on our course promotions and flash sales that we run during the year.
