Why Did a Seocho Dental Clinic Patient Settle Here After Visiting 14 Dentists Over 5 Years?

Thankfully, our clinic regularly receives many patients who come from other regions through referrals from dentists.

Today, I’d like to share the story of a patient who visited 14 dental clinics over 5 years but still couldn’t receive the diagnosis they wanted and was thinking they might have to give up on treatment.

Let me show you the photos first.

Date of photo: 250905

A long time ago, due to trauma, the nerve died and the front tooth became severely discolored.

At another clinic, the patient was told the following:

1. Whitening of a non-vital tooth (a tooth with a dead nerve)

Not recommended because the root is currently short and the root canal treatment is not fully complete

2. Laminate, crown

After the procedure, retention devices cannot be connected after orthodontic treatment

3. Bridge

To maintain balance, three teeth would need to be shaved down, which would be a waste of the remaining teeth

4. Implant

Difficult because the root is short and there is interference from the roots of the teeth on both sides

➡️ Conclusion: resin facing

At the clinic they visited right before coming to us, they received the conclusion of resin facing, and the doctor recommended our clinic.

I determined that whitening a non-vital tooth was possible. Seocho Dental Clinic

After checking, I saw that after orthodontic treatment, there was a pattern of significant root resorption in that tooth.

But it felt too wasteful to extract it right away...

I also ultimately planned to treat it with a resin veneer, but before that, I diagnosed that the base color needed to be brightened in advance through whitening of the non-vital tooth.

Of course, compared with a typical case, the color may not return perfectly, but I judged that it could become brighter than it is now.

Date of photo: 250905

It’s not about covering it up; you have to change it from the root. Seocho Dental Clinic

The patient first asked me this: “Can’t you just cover it with resin?” I smiled and explained:

“Think of it like painting white paint over a black wall. At first it may look fine, but over time the stains show through.

First you need to make the wall itself white, then paint over it so it lasts. Teeth are the same.”

So we planned the treatment in two stages.

Date of photo: 250905

Brighten the internal color of the tooth through whitening of the non-vital tooth, and then bond resin on top of it to restore natural esthetics and strength.

This process is not just about making the patient look better; it is also a way to help maintain the tooth in a healthy condition for a long time.

Details start from small differences. Seocho Dental Clinic

We carried out whitening of the non-vital tooth.

Date of photo: 250905

A very long time ago, the patient had experienced a failed root canal treatment at another clinic.

We removed the old material, sealed the cleaned-out root canal, and placed whitening agent inside the tooth.

We broke down the internal components that caused the discoloration and gradually guided the tooth toward a brighter color.

Date of photo: 250905

You can think of it as turning on a light that had gone out inside the tooth, one by one. Seocho Dental Clinic

Before and after whitening of the non-vital tooth / Date of photo: 250905 / 250926

Once the tooth had been made as bright as possible and no longer responded, we decided to proceed with resin veneering (facing).

The important points at this stage are moisture control and color harmony.

I carefully placed a rubber dam to block saliva and moisture, and layered resin in several shades to recreate the tooth’s original color and translucency.

I implemented, one by one, the characteristic translucency of enamel, the warm tone of dentin, and even the halo effect that appears when light hits it.

The patient had only had resin material applied, yet it looked so natural that it seemed as though the original tooth had been restored.

I think this difference is exactly the “power of detail.”

A long review from a usually quiet patient Seocho Dental Clinic

After the treatment was finished, the patient held up a mirror and looked at the tooth for quite a while.

Date of photo: 251001

At first, they said nothing, so the staff were nervous, thinking, “Could they not like it?” But then their expression suddenly brightened and they said:

Doctor, thank you so, so much. You finally solved what couldn’t be fixed for 5 years.

Date of photo: 250905 / 250926 / 251001

And then, a few days later, surprisingly, the patient left a long and thoughtful review.

The person who had been quiet throughout the treatment wrote at great length about having visited 14 dental clinics over 5 years and resolving a long-standing concern.

It was truly very rewarding for meㅎㅎ

A treatment philosophy that addresses the essence Seocho Dental Clinic

Date of photo: 250905 / 251001

I always think this way. Dental treatment should not simply cover the appearance; it should be a process that solves the underlying problem.

Whitening of a non-vital tooth is also not just about making it white; it is a fundamental method for restoring the tooth’s original color.

When esthetics and function are added through resin restoration, that is when the patient can finally smile freely.

Even dental concerns that have weighed on a patient’s mind for a long time, like this patient’s case, can be sufficiently resolved if the right method is chosen.

And in that process, I always try to uphold the philosophy of “not covering it, but restoring the essence.”

The warm review left by the once-quiet patient, who smiled brightly. At that moment, isn’t that the greatest reward as a dentist?

This was Dr. Sohyun Suh. Thank you.

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

Treatment period: 250905 - 251001