The front teeth I had worried about because of missing teeth, transformed healthily with MINISH

Hello, we are MINISH Dental Hospital.

The mask that once felt suffocating can, for some people, also serve as a useful screen that hides facial complexes.

This week’s main character also relied on a mask for a long time for that reason. This is the story of a son from Gapyeong who appeared in the third episode of LG HelloVision’s “Mom Was Pretty.” Today, we would like to share the difficulties he faced because of missing teeth behind the story introduced on the show, and the story of how he was able to change healthily with MINISH.

“I didn’t have a single photo where I was smiling brightly.”

From the interview with Mr. Lee from Gapyeong

People usually live their whole lives with 28 permanent teeth. However, due to congenital factors, some people are born with an abnormal number of teeth. 대표적인 예로는 extra teeth, and the central focus of today’s story, missing teeth (fewer teeth than normal), are among them.

Before introducing Mr. Lee’s actual case, let’s briefly look at the causes of congenital missing teeth. Congenital missing teeth are one type of tooth developmental disorder, meaning that permanent teeth do not form properly or do not form at all, resulting in a shortage of teeth. Although the exact cause has not yet been identified, it is generally known that the main causes are genetic factors or improper formation of the tooth bud (the seed of a permanent tooth) during pregnancy.

Mr. Lee was born with one missing front tooth. In addition, the one remaining front tooth was unusually large, which made the overall appearance unbalanced and became a source of a complex. Congenital missing teeth can cause not only appearance-related issues like this, but also discomfort in daily life.

What problems can missing teeth cause?

Congenital missing teeth are not simply a matter of one missing tooth. If left untreated, they can cause various problems in terms of dental alignment, function, and overall aesthetics.

1. Misalignment of the teeth

As the surrounding teeth move to fill the empty space centered around the missing tooth area, the overall alignment becomes distorted. As a result, the teeth’s natural function—mastication (chewing food)—does not work properly, and chewing force is also weakened.

2. Causing malocclusion

An imbalance in tooth alignment leads to malocclusion. As the midlines of the upper and lower teeth no longer match, tooth asymmetry and even facial asymmetry can result. If this condition, where the teeth do not properly interlock, continues, it can ultimately shorten the lifespan of the teeth.

3. Reduced aesthetics

Teeth are more than just organs for chewing; they also directly affect the impression one makes in appearance. In particular, if a missing tooth is in an area that naturally shows when speaking or smiling, the visible gap can easily lead to psychological shrinking or appearance-related complexes.

▶ A real case of congenital missing teeth

As mentioned in the interview with our clinic, he was born with one missing front tooth (#21) and one missing lower molar (#35).

In addition, the one front tooth that remained was unusually large compared to the other teeth, so he experienced stress about his appearance and psychological shrinking from childhood.

After being discharged from the military, he decided to make improvements and visited several hospitals, but each time he was advised to go to a university hospital. It was a so-called “high-difficulty case” that required a structurally complex and precise judgment.

In addition to the missing teeth, Mr. Lee also had several other oral issues. The upper and lower teeth, as well as the left and right sides, were not balanced, so the overall dental arch was asymmetrical, and malocclusion was also affecting the harmony of the entire face.

In addition, the arch space (the jaw space where teeth are aligned) was narrow, and because the lower #35 tooth was missing, the lower teeth were especially irregular.

In cases like this, the usual approach is:

① First, orthodontic treatment and an arch expansion device are used to secure space in the jaw so the teeth can be aligned,

② Then an implant is placed in that empty space.

However, this method has the disadvantage that the entire treatment takes a considerable amount of time, including:

✔ the orthodontic treatment period

✔ the time needed for the jawbone to settle

✔ the time until the implant is completed

Because of this, the psychological and financial burden is not small.

But MINISH is a solution that can restore teeth healthily and beautifully without going through a long and complicated process. Mr. Lee was also able to restore the long-empty front tooth area using only the tooth restoration solution MINISH, without complicated procedures such as arch expansion or implants.

By naturally filling the long-vacant space caused by the missing tooth, he was also able to ease the appearance-related complex and psychological burden he had carried for so long.

▶ View About MINISH

The restoration was carried out with precise consideration of several factors, including gum shape, tooth size, and color, so that it would blend well with the existing front teeth.

In particular, matching the symmetry of the gum line through gingivectomy and Pink MINISH was one of the key points of this restoration. The gums, which had looked uneven due to swelling, quickly recovered to a healthy state, and the line was refined to look more natural and smooth.

Also, areas where some gums had receded downward due to excessive occlusal force (chewing force), making them look hollow, were naturally restored with light pink gums through Pink MINISH, creating an overall healthy and harmonious impression.

▶ Learn more about Pink MINISH

Mr. Lee’s front teeth were not the only issue; the arrangement of the lower teeth was also problematic. Due to the narrow arch and the missing #35 tooth, the overall dental alignment was uneven and irregular.

This area was restored using Dual MINISH. It works by delicately refining and protecting the front surface of the lower teeth, helping balance the overall alignment while preserving the natural teeth.

As a result, the uneven lower teeth were arranged more neatly, and the color and texture of the teeth were naturally complemented, creating a much more aesthetically improved impression.

▶ Learn more about Dual MINISH

Hearing Mr. Lee say, “I have never truly smiled properly even once in my life,” and then seeing him finally smile brightly was deeply moving.

Not only were the two neat front teeth restored in place of the congenital missing teeth that had been a lifelong complex, but the overall alignment, color, and even the smile line visible when smiling were also improved.

It was a difficult case that other dental clinics said he should take to a university hospital, but this change was possible thanks to MINISH Dental Hospital’s extensive clinical experience and skilled technology.

Since teeth are an important part of the body that we use for our entire lives, it is not desirable to leave problems untreated.

In particular, when it is not simply an issue with one tooth, as with congenital missing teeth, it can affect the balance of the face and overall oral health, so it is important to find the appropriate restoration method through an expert diagnosis.

Rather than enduring the discomfort, restore your teeth healthily in a way that suits you!

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