Songjeong Station Dental Clinic: Considerations for Making Laminates for Aesthetic Treatment When the Front Teeth Are Gapped

Hello,

This is Director Yeo Sang-ho of Songjeong Station Dental Clinic.

Do your front teeth look spaced apart?

That bothersome gap—

how can it be addressed?

If there is a gap like this when you look in the mirror,

even a well-aligned set of teeth can

somehow feel bothersome.

Neatly aligned teeth

create a tidy and trustworthy image,

but when that area is spaced apart,

it can make you seem less confident

or make your expression feel awkward

when you smile.

On top of that, food particles often get stuck,

which can be uncomfortable.

Today at Songjeong Station Dental Clinic,

we would like to look at an example image related to this

and introduce how treatment may be approached.

What problem is there?

The overall alignment is even,

but there is a slight gap between the two upper front teeth.

No cavities were found,

and the tooth size is slightly smaller than average.

A slight discoloration (yellowish tone) is visible

near the gingival margin of the adjacent teeth.

How can it be treated?

If the main concern is an aesthetic problem like this,

several options can be considered.

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Resin	Same-day treatment possible, no reduction required, relatively low cost	Possible discoloration over time between the resin and natural tooth, risk of detachment
Laminate	Minimal reduction, natural aesthetics, ability to achieve the desired shade and shape, short treatment period	Some reduction required, 2–3 visits needed
Clear aligners	Progresses without reduction while preserving the original shape	Long treatment period, relatively high cost

After considering everything,

Songjeong Station Dental Clinic

determined that laminate would be the appropriate choice.

It minimizes tooth reduction while

a naturally filling the gap

and improving color and shape at the same time,

so both aesthetic and functional satisfaction can be considered.

Laminate procedure and considerations

1️⃣ Decide the number of teeth to treat

Based on the lip line when smiling,

we plan up to the area that is clearly visible.

Usually, it often includes

the canines on both sides,

which is important for overall harmony.

2️⃣ Shade selection

The shade is chosen so it is not excessively brighter than the opposing teeth,

while improving the yellow discoloration around the margin

to create a bright, natural tone.

3️⃣ Decide the shape and design

Through enough consultation,

we identify the desired shape, length, and size.

At Songjeong Station Dental Clinic,

a prosthetic treatment for spaced front teeth means

more than simply filling the gap;

it means completing a natural line

that harmonizes with the face.

4️⃣ Precise reduction (prep) and impression taking

The tooth surface is precisely and minimally prepared,

and an accurate impression is taken and sent to the laboratory.

It is important to determine the thickness

that allows the prosthesis to be stably bonded

even with minimal prep.

6️⃣ A temporary crown is made so that daily life can continue

while the prosthesis is being fabricated.

7️⃣ Direct collaboration with the dental lab

The dental lab performs detailed design work

according to the clinic’s requests

and customizes it to the patient’s oral cavity.

In this process, Songjeong Station Dental Clinic believes

that direct communication with the lab

can improve the final quality.

8️⃣ Final bonding and adjustment

After lightly placing the prosthesis on the tooth,

we carefully check the bite, shape, and color

to make sure there are no problems.

Careful inspection at this stage is an important step

that helps prevent difficult-to-correct issues after bonding.

After that, the tooth surface is roughened,

a bonded using resin cement,

and firmly fixed with a curing light.

After removing the remaining adhesive,

the bite and surrounding gingiva are checked once more

to confirm that everything is fine after bonding.

Once final bonding is completed like this,

aftercare becomes important.

How should laminate be maintained?

To keep front-teeth aesthetic restorations for a long time,

several precautions must be followed.

✔ Avoid hard or chewy foods

Strong impact can cause it to crack

or come off.

Foods such as meat with bones, hard candy,

ice, dried squid, and almonds

are included among foods to avoid.

✔ Avoid biting with the front teeth

If strong force is applied,

the risk of fracture increases.

For example, habits such as tearing open packaging or biting nails

should be avoided.

✔ Regular scaling and checkups

It is important to visit every 6 months

for scaling to help prevent inflammation

of the surrounding gingiva.

✔ Be careful with staining foods and drinks

If you continue to consume foods or drinks

that cause staining,

the color may change.

Coffee, black tea, wine, cola, curry, and similar items

should not be consumed too often.

✔ Be careful when flossing and brushing

If you brush too forcefully with a toothbrush,

the gingiva may recede

or the bond strength may decrease,

so careful maintenance is needed.

✔ Visit immediately if the laminate comes off

If the bond has weakened,

please visit the clinic immediately.

At Songjeong Station Dental Clinic, aesthetic treatment for gaps between the front teeth

should not simply stop at filling the space;

it requires careful planning.

That is because laminate is not just a simple aesthetic treatment,

but a precise procedure that considers

the function and structure of the teeth,

a patient’s expression, and even their impression.

Through thorough diagnosis, sufficient communication during consultation,

and collaboration with the dental lab,

the finished prosthesis can remain natural and comfortable

for a long time.

So, to maintain it,

it is very important to follow the precautions mentioned above

and manage oral health through regular checkups.

This was Director Yeo Sang-ho of Songjeong Station Dental Clinic.

Thank you for reading.

2025.03.25~2025.04.09