Gangnam Station Dentist: For a Chipped Front Tooth, Choose Resin Instead of a Crown

Sometimes, patients who come in while covering their front teeth carefully ask this question.

“My front tooth is a little chipped.. I thought maybe it could just be lightly filled, so I searched and came here..”

Gangnam Station Dentist

Everyone wants to avoid tooth reduction if possible.

So quite a few people come to our clinic after looking for a place that can treat them with resin, which is more favorable for preserving the tooth than a crown.

A patient in their 30s who recently visited us also had a fractured tooth, but we preserved the tooth with resin restoration instead of a crown.

Of course, not every tooth fracture can be treated with resin.

Fortunately, in this patient’s case, resin was possible.

But the process was very complex.

There was secondary decay along with an old restoration, and there were difficulties with managing the margins^^;

I always aim for not just a ‘simple restoration’ but a ‘precise restoration’ from diagnosis to reconstruction.

I think this case is a good example of a conservative yet aesthetic resin restoration that fully reflects that treatment philosophy, so please read to the end^^

Head Dentist So Hyun-su at Jaejugooun Dental Clinic
Specialist in Integrated Dentistry
Completed Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry course at King’s College London, UK
Author of Dental Clinic Opening Startup Point
Author of Ask Me Anything: Dental Treatment
Author of Jaejugooun Dentist
Delivered multiple lectures for dentists
669 front-tooth cases handled to date

Why a deep diagnosis matters Gangnam Station Dentist

At first glance, it looked like a relatively simple fracture. The edge of the front tooth was slightly chipped, and there were also traces of previous resin restoration.

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But as is often the case, when you look a little more closely at a tooth, there are many situations that cannot be explained simply by saying it was ‘chipped.’

This case was the same. With the old resin treatment having aged, the bonding strength had weakened, and bacteria had slowly been infiltrating through the gaps for a long time.

As a result, secondary decay had progressed underneath the resin.

Gangnam Station Dentist

On the surface it looked fine, but inside, the tooth structure was already being damaged.

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In cases like this, simply removing the resin and patching it is not enough. The existing decay must be completely removed, and then the tooth has to be restored again so that it does not look noticeable.

Another thing I paid close attention to was that the fractured area precisely overlapped with the existing restoration site.

When the existing margin and the newly damaged area interlock like this, the result changes depending on how the restoration boundary is designed.

Front teeth are an area where even a single tonal difference in color stands out.

That is why we have to approach everything much more delicately, from diagnosis to the restoration plan. Even in a situation that appears to be a simple fracture, this is why a deep diagnosis and judgment are absolutely necessary.

Simple restoration, not reconstruction Gangnam Station Dentist

After diagnosis, when setting the treatment plan, the first thing I considered was the balance between ‘preservation’ and ‘reproduction.’

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In this patient’s case, decay had progressed beneath the area where the resin had fallen off.

Removing every last bit of decay is basic, and what is more important is reducing tooth reduction while restoring the tooth so that the margins do not look obvious.

In general, many clinics recommend crown treatment when there is severe decay or a fracture,

but even if it is a little more difficult and takes more time, if there is a way to preserve the tooth and maintain the texture of the natural tooth, I believe that should be considered first.

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So this time as well, I chose a precise resin restoration instead of a crown. Gangnam Station Dentist

After removing the decay, the fractured margin was naturally connected using a layering technique.

The color of a tooth is not a single shade; it is made up of a deep inner color and a lighter translucent outer layer. Following that structure, I had to build up and adjust the color in multiple layers.

In addition, by carefully reproducing the direction light passes through and the tooth surface’s subtle patterns, I completed the treatment with the goal of achieving a result where it would be hard to tell which part had been treated.

Minimal tooth reduction and natural aesthetics Gangnam Station Dentist

After the treatment was finished, the patient held up a mirror and looked for a long time before smiling silently.

“Honestly, I can’t tell where it was chipped.”

Hearing those words made me feel like all the treatment time that day had been rewarded.

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Front teeth are not just areas where function is restored. They are in a very important position because they affect facial expression, appearance, and even confidence when speaking.

That is why at Gangnam Station Dentist, this kind of front-tooth resin treatment is not regarded as merely ‘filling it in.’

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We aim to carefully consider even one tone of color and one line of gloss, and to restore both the natural beauty and function of the tooth.

When a front tooth is chipped, or when a previous resin treatment has fallen out, many clinics talk about a ‘crown.’

But I do not think so. Gangnam Station Dentist

The first thing to consider before a crown is how much of this tooth can be preserved, and how naturally it can be restored.

Resin treatment is certainly a difficult procedure and one that takes a long time. But it also means we can reduce tooth reduction and protect more of the tooth.

I believe that is one of the honest choices a dentist can make for a patient.

Going forward, I will continue to uphold the principles of ‘conservative treatment’ and ‘delicate restoration’—carefully touching the tooth as little as possible while helping it recover as naturally as possible.

I hope this front-tooth retreatment case introduced today can serve as a reference for those who are considering their treatment options.

Thank you for reading this long post.

• This treatment may have side effects such as detachment, discoloration, or sensitivity, so please consult with your attending physician.