Sadang Station Dental Clinic: A Broken Front Tooth, Possible in One Day with Same-Day Resin Restoration Without a Heavy Cost Burden

Hello,

I’m Park Jeong-gi, a dentist at Sadang Station Dental Clinic.

Everyone has probably worried at least once about breaking a tooth.

If it actually happens, it’s only natural to feel shocked and flustered.

That discomfort can be even greater if you have a job that involves a lot of talking with people.

Today, I’d like to share medical information based on a case in which the incisal edge of the upper right front tooth (tooth #11) was chipped, and same-day resin restoration was performed.

What is the incisal edge?

First, the term “incisal edge” may be unfamiliar, so let me briefly explain.

It refers to the very end of a front tooth,

that is, the blade-like part that cuts food.

This part is shaped sharply so it can bite into and cut food.

In dentistry, this area is called the

“incisal edge.”

Why does the incisal edge break?

At Sadang Station Dental Clinic, we explain that this is one of the more common types of tooth fracture.

Because it is a thin and sensitive part of the anterior teeth,

fracture can occur for various reasons.

1. Trauma

The most common cause,

this occurs when the tooth is struck by an accident such as falling down or bumping into something.

2. Bad habits

Biting pencils or pens,

biting your nails,

or using your teeth to open bottle caps are

bad habits that can cause tooth cracks.

3. Teeth grinding and clenching

If you unconsciously grind your teeth at night

or clench them tightly due to stress,

too much force is applied,

which can weaken them over time.

4. Malocclusion

If the upper and lower teeth do not fit together properly,

excessive pressure can be placed on certain teeth,

which can weaken them.

If the upper teeth do not cover the lower teeth normally,

or if they overlap like scissors,

or if there is malocclusion, they will experience more stress.

The case I’m introducing from Sadang Station Dental Clinic

involved a fracture at the incisal edge of tooth #11.

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Fortunately, in this case the fractured area was relatively small,

and the pulp (nerve) had not been damaged,

so it could be managed with same-day resin restoration

without complicated treatment.

Still, since enough force was applied to break the tooth,

a careful oral examination and thorough assessment of the condition are necessary before proceeding with resin restoration.

This was possible because the fractured area was relatively small

and limited to only part of the tooth.

If the amount of fracture had been more than half of the tooth

or if it had reached the pulp, more complex treatment such as a crown or root canal treatment may have been needed.

In addition, the surrounding tooth structure was healthy,

allowing the material to bond well.

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At Sadang Station Dental Clinic, when treating anterior teeth,

the focus is on selecting the shade that is most similar to the patient’s natural tooth.

Front teeth usually have multiple layers with different shades and translucencies,

so several resin shades may be mixed and used.

By layering the material over the fractured area,

the original shape was precisely restored.

In addition, through the polishing process,

a natural shine was given

and the treatment was carefully finished so that there were no rough or uneven areas.

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Comparing the before-and-after photos at Sadang Station Dental Clinic,

you can see that the fractured area of the front tooth

was naturally restored.

A satisfactory esthetic result was achieved

without high-cost treatments such as a crown or laminate.

Resin restoration has the advantages of being relatively affordable,

taking only about 30 minutes,

and being completed on the same day,

so when used appropriately in suitable cases,

patient satisfaction is very high.

However, on the day of treatment, it is best to avoid biting directly into hard foods with the front teeth,

and to avoid hard, sticky foods as well as strongly colored foods such as black tea and curry.

If you are reading this because of a fracture or a similar reason,

I hope today’s explanation was helpful.

Thank you for reading.

This was Dr. Park Jeong-gi of Seoul Remember at Sadang Station Dental Clinic.

Treatment date: 2025.04.28