Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic: Minimally Prepared Small Front Tooth Microdontia and Pain-Free, Non-Damaging Real Laminate (Laminate) for 6-Anterior Prosthetic Restoration Treatment

Treatment period: 2026.01.07 ~ 2026.01.15

Nice to meet you,

I’m Director Park Jeong-gi of Seoul Remember Dental Clinic in Bongcheon-dong.

Microdontia refers to

cases where teeth are congenitally smaller than normal,

and it occurs most commonly in the lateral incisors (the teeth right next to the front teeth).

As a type of tooth shape abnormality that appears due to

genetic factors or developmental abnormalities,

spaces may exist depending on the alignment of the teeth,

which can reduce aesthetics

and lead to a loss of confidence,

as well as an overall imbalance in the dental arch.

So today at Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic,

I’d like to explain

laminate (Laminate)

as a way to address this.

Because it looks so natural and real,

at Seoul Remember we also call it Realnate.

It is a procedure that attaches a thin ceramic prosthesis

to the tooth surface,

and since it improves shape and size while minimizing

removal of the natural tooth,

it provides excellent aesthetics without damage

and is popular among modern people.

1. Diagnosis and Planning

The case we’re showing today at Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic

involves the second front tooth, the lateral incisor,

which is microdontia (peg lateralis),

and has likely been a concern for a long time

because it is smaller than the surrounding teeth.

Also, the central incisors, which are the first teeth people notice,

have a yellowish color

and the length of the incisal edge is not smooth,

so if we were to do laminate only on the lateral incisors,

the difference would likely be quite noticeable.

In general, when doing anterior laminate,

it is often performed on a total of 4 teeth, #12=22,

but in this case we decided to treat the canines

(13 and 23) as well.

The canines were also significantly worn,

and canines are naturally somewhat yellow,

but in this case they looked especially yellow,

so

after sufficient discussion with the patient,

we decided on the number of teeth to restore

in order to minimize differences in shade.

How many teeth to treat

depends on each patient’s oral condition,

and the expected outcome also differs,

so at Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic,

we believe communication between doctor and patient

is very important in matters like this.

2. Pre-Treatment Preparation

Once it is decided how many teeth will be covered,

we begin treatment after considering not only size, shape, and shade,

but also the harmony with the gum line and lip line.

We perform minimal tooth reduction

for laminate attachment.

As in today’s case at Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic,

when covering microdontia,

because the teeth are already small,

there are cases where it can be done with almost no reduction.

3. Precise Impression Taking

A precise impression of the shaped front teeth is taken

and the prosthesis fabrication begins,

but these days, thanks to advances in medical technology,

the prosthesis may also be made through a digital scanning process.

4. Prosthesis Placement

At Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic,

because the prosthesis is very thin and must be attached

so that it fits exactly like a natural tooth,

we do a try-in before bonding

to check whether the color and design satisfy the patient,

and then we bond it.

Since it will remain attached semi-permanently,

we do not simply place it without checking;

if there are areas the patient would like changed,

we need to reflect those points.

Looking at the final result,

the six anterior teeth were all restored

with natural-looking size and shape,

and the color was made brighter than before,

improving aesthetics.

Because the Realnate method was used,

the amount of tooth reduction was small,

which is also an advantage because healthy tooth structure was preserved during treatment.

The Realnate method explained today at Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic has

• aesthetics that are difficult to distinguish from natural teeth
• minimal gum irritation and minimal damage to natural teeth
• fewer visits
• no pain

and several other advantages.

That is why, unlike getting a prosthesis such as a crown

or undergoing orthodontic treatment,

it has many strengths.

However, before laminate treatment,

there may be cases where it is not possible depending on conditions such as a deep bite where the front teeth bite too much

or the bite relationship,

so you should undergo an examination in advance.

If you have habits such as teeth grinding or clenching,

there is a risk of fracture,

so please keep this in mind before receiving treatment.

Also, through regular checkups,

it is a good idea to check whether the prosthesis is being maintained well.

If you are stressed because of microdontia,

I recommend receiving a consultation after an accurate diagnosis

and discussing a treatment plan that matches your tooth condition

and bite.

Thank you for reading.

This was Director Park Jeong-gi of Seoul Remember Dental Clinic in Bongcheon-dong.