A simulation is not a guarantee: how to make that clear

A simulation works precisely because it is convincing. The patient sees their own face with the planned change and understands the plan in seconds. The problem is that same strength: a convincing image is read as a promise, even when no one promised anything.

This page offers a short script to make clear that a simulation is not a guarantee, shows where to document the disclaimer and points out the most common slips. The text is about communication and is left to the judgment of the qualified professional, in line with the rules of their professional board in Brazil.

Why does the disclaimer have to be spoken, not just written?

Because the patient looks at the face, not the caption. The words "illustrative simulation" at the bottom are necessary, but they compete with an image that fills the whole screen. What the patient remembers is decided by what you say while the image is open.

There is also the ethical side of the duty to inform: patients have the right to know that the image is a representation, that it was generated by AI and that the treatment result may be different. Saying this once, calmly, is worth more than three printed notices.

Three-sentence script

The script below takes less than a minute and can be adapted to your own style:

1. What it is. "This image is a computer simulation based on your photo and on what we marked."
2. What it is not. "It is not a guarantee or a portrait of the final result; your body responds in its own way."
3. What it is for. "It is for us to talk about the plan and decide together whether it makes sense."

If the patient reacts with "so what is the point of looking?", answer that there is a point, because the image helps align what they want, but that the decision is about the procedure, not about the picture.

Where should the disclaimer be documented?

There are four natural places, and ideally you use more than one:

The informed consent form can include a specific item about simulation. See the template in how to explain the consent form. In the patient record, one line with the date and the patient's acknowledgment is usually enough; there is no need to transcribe the conversation.

Which phrases create the idea of a guarantee by accident?

Most implicit promises hide in loose words. A few examples to avoid:

• "It will look like this." Replace with "the idea is to move in that direction, if your face responds well".
• "It turns out this way." Replace with "it may look similar, but it varies".
• "That is exactly what we do." Replace with "that is the kind of result we aim for".
• "Trust me." Replace with "ask whatever you like, the decision is yours".
• Any comparison like "just like patient X".

Body language matters too: pointing enthusiastically at the After image and looking at the patient for approval sends the message that this is what was agreed. Keep the posture of someone presenting a hypothesis.

For the opposite of this list, see what never to say when showing the simulation.

What changes when the patient shares the image?

Patients send the simulation to a spouse or a friend, or post it on social media. The image leaves its context and the caption gets lost. So:

• tell them the image carries a simulation disclaimer and should be shared together with it;
• ask them not to post it as if it were a result;
• do not use the projection in the clinic's advertising as if it were a real before and after. See what you can advertise, CFO and CONAR (in Brazil, the dental board and the advertising self-regulation body).

For sending by message, the care about how and when to send is covered in sending the simulation to the patient on WhatsApp.

What if the result looks similar to the simulation?

That is the easy case, and it also deserves care. Do not use the coincidence to say the simulation "got it right"; that reinforces the idea of prediction. Prefer "it went in the direction we discussed" and remember that another patient, with the same image, could have had a different result.

What if the result looks different?

Show the before photo, the simulation and the after photo side by side, recall what was said and handle the conversation as in communicating a result below expectations. The difference between simulation and result is not, in itself, a failure: the simulation is an idea, and the result is biology. What matters is how you handle it and what was documented.

To compare against the real photo, there is the "Projection vs Actual" feature: the app stores the result photo aligned by the eyes and compares Projection, Actual result and Projection vs Actual. See comparing the simulation with the post-procedure photo and the difference between simulation and actual result.