Apgujeong Dental Clinic: 3 Things Needed for Successful Resin Treatment of Peg Laterals

“I’d like the sides to look a bit fuller.”

Apgujeong Dental Clinic

A patient who opened the door to the treatment room made a very cheerful first impression.

Photo taken on: 240807

“Doctor, when I smile, my sides feel like they’re empty, can you make them look fuller?” Apgujeong Dental Clinic

The spaces beside the two lateral incisors stood out because of peg laterals.

Peg laterals can be something only the person notices, but they’re also a spot that tends to draw attention when taking photos or speaking.

They often appear in the lateral incisors, which are the second front teeth next to the larger central incisors.

So I completely understood the patient’s feeling that they just wanted it “filled in a little.”

Thankfully, after searching around on portal sites like NeXver and GooX, the patient came to see me after much consideration.. (Really.. this is a reason I need to work even harder. Thank youㅠㅠ)

I decided to do my best to help with the treatment so that the patient would not regret that choice😊👍

Don’t just make it bigger. Apgujeong Dental Clinic

After the diagnosis, I told the patient:

“Making the side teeth larger doesn’t automatically make them look pretty.

They look different from the front, from the side, and at different angles when you smile.”

Photo taken on: 240807

What matters in peg lateral treatment is

1. The difference in height compared with the adjacent teeth
2. The curve of light reflection that appears when smiling
3. The balance of the overall dental midline Apgujeong Dental Clinic

These three are the main points.

Photo taken on: 240807

All three must be matched for it not to look like something was “attached.” If you simply make it bigger, it can actually look more awkward.

Less alteration, more precision Apgujeong Dental Clinic

We decided to proceed with resin only, without removing any tooth structure.

I carefully record the patient’s requests and anything that must not be forgotten. I check them several times during treatment as wellㅎㅎ

And we set three goals.

Fill the side spaces while maintaining the midline and symmetry
Apply a visual illusion design so the teeth do not look too large from the front
Preserve the natural translucency and texture of the original teeth so it doesn’t look like something was added

For reference, one edge of a front tooth had a small chip, so we planned to restore that part as well and create a natural smile line.

After making the plan, I explained it to the patient as well. Apgujeong Dental Clinic

Photo taken on: 250807

I always sketch in advance how the resin should be built up. And I explain it directly to the patient^^

Knowing exactly what treatment you are receiving makes a really big difference.

The beauty of 0.1 mm Apgujeong Dental Clinic

Peg lateral resin treatment is closer to delicate sculpting work.

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Because even a 0.1 mm difference can change the impression, I build thin layers, shape them, shine light on them again... and repeat the process.

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“Doctor, this looks like you’re making almost a work of art?” That’s what the patient said during a midway check.

Actually, yes😂

Peg lateral resin is complete only when color, shape, reflection, and curve... all the elements come together.

The smile becomes brighter Apgujeong Dental Clinic

When I added the final gloss and handed over the mirror, the patient smiled and kept looking in the mirror for a long time.

Photo taken on: 240807

“Wow, the sides look full, but it doesn’t look awkward at all. It really looks like my original teeth.”

The result preserved the tooth’s original health without filing it down at all, while achieving both aesthetic satisfaction and naturalness.

Photo taken on: 250807

After finishing payment and heading out, the patient said at the front desk, “The more I look at it, the more I like itㅋㅋ I work in air conditioner repair, so if you ever need it, I’ll take good care of it for you later~”

Isn’t that such a nice thing to hear?

With that relaxed smile and sense of humor, we also saw the patient off with a bright smile. And they even added, “I’ll definitely introduce you because my sister is similar,” before leaving.

Small changes, big satisfaction Apgujeong Dental Clinic

Peg lateral treatment is not about making teeth bigger, but about completing a smile in balance.

If possible, I choose a direction that does not alter the teeth. Once a tooth is touched, it cannot go back to how it was.

I aim for treatment that delivers “big satisfaction through small changes.” Apgujeong Dental Clinic

A smile that becomes brighter every time you smile, and lasts for a long time. That is what I consider a good result.

This has been Director Sohyunsoo. Thank you.

👇🏻Take a look at another peg lateral case as well👇🏻

• Depending on the individual, symptoms such as sensitivity, foreign-body sensation, and bite discomfort may appear temporarily, and in rare cases, additional treatment may be needed.

Treatment period: 250807 - 250807