Canine Laminate Treatment Methods and the Importance of Maintenance

Hello, I am Park Jae-hyeong, the CEO dentist of Wonjin Dental Clinic.

Can canine laminate treatment be done?

Orthodontic treatment takes too long, so it feels burdensome.

People with canines often cover their mouths out of habit when talking or smiling.

Because of this stress, some people consider orthodontic treatment,

but some give up on treatment because they are burdened by the fear of extraction, the cost, and the time required.

These days, laminate can improve aesthetics in a short period of time.

However, the important point is that not every canine can be resolved with laminate.

In today’s post, I will organize the causes of canines, the canine laminate treatment method, and how to care for them to maintain them for a long time.

Table of contents

• Causes of canines

• Canine laminate treatment method

• In what cases is treatment possible?

• Care methods for long-term maintenance

• Key summary of canine laminate treatment

Causes of canines

Canines are not simply a state where “one tooth has grown crooked.”

In most cases, they occur because there is not enough space for the teeth to align, or because the direction in which the teeth grow becomes misaligned.

There are four representative causes:

• When the teeth are large compared to the jaw size

• When the timing of permanent tooth eruption was irregular

• When the tooth alignment developed asymmetrically

• When the teeth protrude outward

Because the causes are so varied, it can be risky to decide on a treatment direction based only on appearance.

In particular, if prosthetic treatment is performed forcefully in a severe canine case,

there may be a large amount of tooth reduction,

and it can also place a burden on long-term dental health. Therefore, before treatment, a process that accurately analyzes the current alignment and occlusion is necessary.

Canine laminate treatment method

Canine laminate treatment is an aesthetic procedure that improves tooth shape and alignment by refining the tooth surface and then attaching a thin ceramic restoration.

It is a treatment applied not only to canines but also to gaps between the front teeth, small teeth, and discolored teeth.

Although it is not a method that moves the tooth roots like orthodontics, it can create a much neater appearance visually. The treatment method and process for canine laminate are as follows.

1. Detailed diagnosis

The tooth alignment, degree of protrusion, gum condition, and occlusion are checked to determine whether laminate is possible.

2. Design

The shape, length, and color are determined, and the overall proportions are matched.

3. Minimal tooth reduction

The tooth surface is thinly refined to create space for the restoration.

4. Impression taking and fabrication

An impression of the teeth is taken to fabricate a customized ceramic laminate.

5. Attachment and occlusal adjustment

The completed laminate is attached to the teeth and then carefully adjusted.

In what cases is treatment possible?

However, not everyone can solve canine problems with laminate.

First, suitable cases are as follows:

• When the front teeth look slightly overlapped

• When the degree of canine protrusion is not severe

• When the teeth look like canines because of differences in tooth size

• When you want to improve shape and color at the same time

On the other hand, in the following cases, you should consider orthodontic treatment.

• When several teeth are severely overlapped

• When there is a large occlusal imbalance

• When the protrusion is severe

• When there is also a jaw position problem

In these cases, laminate treatment would require excessive tooth reduction,

which can lead to problems such as tooth sensitivity.

(See the post below)

There is also a high possibility that the finished result will look unnatural.

Canine laminate is a treatment that must be decided carefully, taking into account the tooth protrusion angle, the proportion with surrounding teeth, and occlusion.

Care methods for long-term maintenance

Because laminate works by bonding a natural tooth and an artificial restoration, post-treatment care is very important.

In particular, care must be taken to avoid excessive impact on the bonding area. I will explain how to care for it so it lasts a long time, so please be sure to follow these precautions carefully.

1. Be careful with food intake

As mentioned earlier, laminate is a treatment that attaches a thin restoration, so its strength is relatively low.

If you frequently eat hard nuts or tough foods such as dried squid or jerky, it may crack or come off. It is best to avoid such foods as much as possible, and when eating them, you should chew carefully with the molars rather than the front teeth.

2. Pay attention to oral hygiene

If food debris remains at the bonding margin, it can lead to discoloration or gum inflammation.

After brushing, be sure to use dental floss, and it is also a good idea to use interdental brushes as well.

3. Improve lifestyle habits

In particular, if you have a habit of grinding your teeth or clenching them tightly, repeated force may be applied to the restoration.

It is a good idea to use a mouthguard such as a night guard while sleeping to reduce irritation.

Smoking or excessive coffee intake can increase the possibility of discoloration at the bonding margin, so caution is needed.

4. Get regular checkups

The most important thing is to continue getting regular checkups.

You should visit the dental clinic every six months to be examined for any issues and to receive scaling.

Because the maintenance period of laminate varies greatly depending on how well it is cared for,

please be sure to follow the four care methods mentioned above.

Key summary of canine laminate treatment

Canine laminate has various causes, and the treatment direction should be determined according to those causes.

For this, you need an accurate diagnosis of the degree of protrusion, occlusion, and tooth alignment, and orthodontic treatment may also be necessary.

Also, after treatment, you should be careful with hard foods and habits such as teeth grinding, and continue to receive regular checkups.

If the correct treatment method and consistent care continue in this way, it can be used for a long time, even for more than 10 years.

Thank you. This was Park Jae-hyeong.