Why a Fallen Laminate Needs to Be Reattached

Hello, this is Yonsei U-Line Dental Clinic.

Today, I’d like to discuss something that people who have received laminate treatment

often ask about.

We often receive questions asking whether, if a laminate keeps falling off or breaking,

it can simply be removed so the original tooth can be used again.

One advantage of laminates is that they require

less tooth reduction than conventional prosthetic treatment.

When placing a crown, the outer, inner, upper,

and side surfaces of the tooth generally need to be reduced substantially,

whereas laminates are mainly applied to the front teeth

and require only minimal reduction of the outer surface,

allowing more of the tooth to be preserved comparatively.

However, even if only a small amount is reduced,

in most cases this does not mean that

‘no reduction at all’ has taken place.

If even a small part of the tooth has been reduced,

that area will not return to its original state.

Therefore, if you try to use the tooth as it is,

it may become sensitive or hypersensitive,

and there is also a risk that the weakened area may fracture.

That is why, if a laminate falls off,

it is necessary to have another laminate placed or, depending on the situation,

continue with another type of prosthetic treatment,

such as a crown.

Of course, there are also cases involving no-prep laminates.

If the teeth are naturally small from birth,

or if there are gaps between the teeth and no reduction is necessary,

laminates can be attached without reducing the teeth.

In such cases, if the laminate falls off,

the original tooth could be used as it is.

However, in reality, even these cases

often require some minor reduction.

Therefore, in most situations,

the safest option is to have the fallen laminate remade and reattached.

Another point to consider is enamel.

The enamel covering the outside of our teeth

is an important tissue that protects them,

but during some laminate procedures,

reduction may extend beyond the enamel.

If the laminate falls off in this situation,

the tooth may lose its protective layer and become sensitive,

or even develop nerve pain.

Therefore, in such cases,

it is essential to have another laminate placed.

To summarize, if a laminate has been placed and then falls off,

prosthetic treatment is needed again in most cases.

There may be exceptions in no-prep cases,

but generally, using the original tooth as it is

can cause considerable discomfort and risk.

Therefore, it is advisable to proceed with

a new laminate or another type of prosthetic treatment.