Songjeong Dental Clinic: Removing Staining from Front-Tooth Resin and the Anterior Tooth Laminate Process

Hello,

I’m Yeo Sang-ho, a dentist at Songjeong Dental Clinic. 😊

Today, I’d like to introduce a laminate procedure related to old front-tooth discoloration.

💬 What is a laminate?

As I mentioned before, this is a treatment that improves the shape, color tone, and alignment by attaching a thin ceramic plate to the front surface of a natural tooth.

It is especially used in the front-tooth area, where aesthetics are important, and it has the advantage of not requiring excessive tooth reduction.

However, since ceramic is a material that can be brittle, you may have concerns about it.

When it is firmly bonded through an adhesive method (Lamination), both durability and functionality improve at the same time.

Just as a thin tile does not easily break when it is bonded to a floor!

There are several methods depending on how much the teeth are reduced.

1. No-prep

The teeth are not reduced at all, and a thin ceramic layer is attached over the existing structure.

However, because it is attached without reshaping the teeth, it may become slightly thick.

Therefore, it is often used for peg laterals or naturally spaced teeth.

2. Minimal-prep

The front surface is trimmed by only about 0.3 to 0.5 mm to secure space for the restoration.

It can create a natural-looking color tone and shape, and there is almost no damage to the teeth.

3. Moderate-prep

More than 1 mm of the tooth surface is reduced so that a thicker and stronger ceramic can be attached.

This makes it possible to create a strong, well-fitting prosthesis, but the amount of reduction increases.

Today, I’ll show you example photos related to this and explain the treatment process.

1. Examination

Looking at the intraoral condition, only the upper front teeth on the left and right had unusual color and shape.

This was judged to be a problem caused by the restored resin having discolored after a long time of use and having an imbalanced shape.

The issues identified at Songjeong Dental Clinic are as follows.

✔ Discoloration due to old resin

✔ Reduced aesthetics because the anterior tooth proportions look triangular

By comprehensively analyzing these examination findings, we were able to establish the following treatment plan.

2. Treatment Plan

To improve the aesthetic proportions, we decided to extend the range to include the lateral incisors on both sides,

and after removing the existing resin, we planned laminate restorations for the central and lateral incisors (the four front teeth).

At this stage, we recommended minimizing tooth reduction so that the natural teeth could be preserved.

Then, I will explain what process Songjeong Dental Clinic used for the treatment.

3. Actual Treatment Process

First, the old resin is removed using a dedicated bur.

This is a view of only the bonded restoration being cleaned up with almost no removal of tooth structure.

The front surface of the tooth is lightly polished to secure space, and a smooth margin is formed along the gum line.

It was designed to extend slightly to the adjacent surfaces so that it would connect naturally without any sense of discomfort.

Based on the computer design, a wax-up or 3D-printed model is made to check harmony,

and it is actually applied to the natural teeth and reflected in the final prosthesis.

After silane treatment inside the laminate, the natural tooth surface is etched (acid-etched), and then a bonding agent is applied.

Using an adhesive, the laminate is attached to the tooth surface, and then light-cured for at least 40 seconds with a curing light.

After removing the excess cement, polishing and finishing are performed, and the entire process is complete.

Completed photo📸

🖼️ Before & After

After comparing the before-and-after results at Songjeong Dental Clinic, we could see that the front teeth, which had been triangular in shape and had uneven color tone due to old resin, had become front teeth with a balanced proportion and color tone.

If you are worried about having to shave down a lot of tooth structure, you may want to consider this type of laminate treatment.

Of course, the treatment method may vary depending on the individual’s dental condition and needs.

It is important to choose the method that is right for you through an accurate diagnosis and sufficient consultation.

This was Songjeong Dental Clinic. Thank you for reading this long post.

Treatment period: 2025.02.14~2025.03.04