Treatment Process for a Chipped Front Tooth Laminate at a Balsan Dental Clinic

Hello,

I am dentist Lee Sang-ho from Balsan Dental Clinic.

Today, I would like to explain laminate treatment, which helps make the smile of teeth more beautiful, in an easy-to-understand way.

This is a treatment method that improves the shape and color tone by attaching a thin ceramic layer to the front surface of a natural tooth.

It aims to create precise and natural-looking results by using computer technology.

From here, let’s look at the overall treatment process step by step.

1. Examination

After examining the inside of the mouth,

the case had the following oral and esthetic issues.

1. Tooth damage

The incisal edge was chipped due to drinks, food, and an improper bite.

2. Size and alignment issues

The size and alignment of the anterior teeth were uneven.

2. Esthetics

The tooth tissue had worn down, affecting esthetics.

After diagnosing through these examinations, we create a treatment plan appropriate for the individual.

2. Treatment Plan

At Balsan Dental Clinic,

we will now explain the treatment plan.

Just as the eye size, nose height, and lip height that suit each person are different, natural teeth also have shapes and designs that suit each person differently.

Therefore, in the mock procedure stage, it is important to check the ideal tooth proportions and shape in advance.

At this time, we also determine what to do with the line angle, the corner line where the side and front surfaces of the tooth meet, to confirm the overall look.

Based on computer design, we create a wax-up or 3D-printed model to check harmony.

What is a wax-up?

It is a process in which a model is made in advance and a mock procedure is performed beforehand to see what changes will be made.

By using temporary materials, it is possible to apply them to the natural teeth in practice and decide on the final design.

This process can be carried out through sufficient communication between the patient and the dentist, and the final outcome can be predicted.

From here, Balsan Dental Clinic will explain the treatment process.

4. Procedure

Referring to the mock-up (a model made in advance), part of the natural tooth is shaved down so that the laminate can be attached.

The tooth surface is smoothed so that bonding can take place.

At Balsan Dental Clinic,

an oral scanner is used to take impressions,

and after designing with a computer program, the laminate is fabricated using milling equipment.

After that, etching is performed (roughening the surface with acid), and the laminate is surface-treated with hydrofluoric acid and similar agents.

Then, at Balsan Dental Clinic, after attaching the laminate using resin, any unnecessary cement is removed,

and it is firmly fixed using a light curing device.

Once the treatment is complete, teeth with a natural shape and color tone appear.

There are pros and cons to each method for addressing oral problems, and the appropriate method may vary depending on the individual’s oral condition, age, environment, bite, and more.

Among them, laminate is a treatment method that addresses both the esthetic and functional problems of natural teeth at the same time.

I hope this medical information was helpful to those who needed it.

I will return next time with an explanation of another case.

This was Director Lee Sang-ho of Balsan Dental Clinic.

Thank you for reading this long post.

Treatment period: 2022.02.21~2022.03.15