Closed Front Teeth Gap: Let’s Naturally Fill the Space with Laminate Instead of Resin — Seoul National University Entrance Dental Clinic Upper Anterior Real Nate Case

Hello,

I’m Dr. Park Jeong-gi from Remember Dental Clinic at Seoul National University Entrance.

When you look in the mirror, you may not notice it.

But after taking a photo,

you may have experienced the space between your front teeth standing out more than usual.

In particular, front teeth that are slightly spaced when you smile

can look cute,

but for the person themselves, they are often felt as a complex.

In fact, among the patients who visit Seoul National University Entrance Dental Clinic,

many say,

“It’s not that it looks seriously abnormal, but I keep worrying about it.”

The problem is that this kind of front teeth spacing

can become wider over time

or worsen along with gum conditions.

So instead of simply putting up with it,

it may sometimes be better to find a way to improve it quickly and naturally

and address it.

The case I’m showing today is

a case in which the space between the maxillary central incisors was naturally improved with laminate.

Because it looks so much like real teeth

and feels so natural,

it is even called “Real Nate.”

I’ll explain the procedure that was carried out with the goal of achieving results that are difficult to distinguish from natural teeth.

Why do front teeth gaps occur?

Spaces between the front teeth

can occur for various reasons.

When the dental arch is wider relative to tooth size,

there may also be a genetic influence,

and in some cases the space gradually widens due to changes in periodontal condition.

In addition, tongue habits or bite problems

can also be causes of space formation.

In such cases,

rather than orthodontic treatment,

prosthetic approaches may be chosen

for a faster aesthetic improvement,

and at Seoul National University Entrance Dental Clinic,

resin and laminate are differentiated and applied according to the patient’s oral condition.

What is Real Nate?

Real Nate

is not an official name,

but a term coined by Seoul National University Entrance Dental Clinic

to express naturalness,

and if classified as a treatment item,

it falls under laminate treatment.

Using thin ceramic,

the tooth surface is covered

to improve both shape and color at the same time,

and in particular, translucency and light reflection

are expressed very similarly to natural teeth,

so it came to be called Real Nate in the sense of being “real.” ^^

At Seoul National University Entrance Dental Clinic,

we aim for a design that is not overly thick or artificial

but harmonizes with natural teeth,

so I think the name was chosen very well.

Upper 4-tooth procedure process

In this case,

the main goal was to fill the gap between the central incisors.

At that time, we did not simply close only the gap between the central incisors (teeth 11 and 21),

but proceeded together from tooth 12 to tooth 22.

The reason is exactly

proportion and balance.

If only the central area is closed,

the width of the teeth may look unnaturally large,

so by including the neighboring teeth as well,

we matched the overall harmony.

The key to laminate is

to create a natural shape while minimizing tooth reduction,

and because color matching and translucency expression are so important,

and the quality of the lab process greatly affects the result,

depending on the need,

we sometimes perform it on 4 teeth or even 6 teeth.

At Seoul National University Entrance Dental Clinic,

we also considered the length and line of the incisal edge,

and determined that restoring 4 teeth

would allow for a more detailed and satisfying result,

so we proceeded accordingly.

Completed with only 2 visits

Front teeth spacing

is not simply a matter of one gap,

but also a factor that influences the overall impression and image.

It can be solved simply with resin,

but for a more natural and longer-lasting result,

we completed laminate restoration with just 2 visits.

If you want a level that is almost indistinguishable from natural teeth,

the design and detail of Real Nate

rather than resin will give a more satisfying result.

Just by slightly changing the front teeth,

the overall impression changed.

To achieve this kind of result,

a precise consultation

that comprehensively considers the current oral condition and the patient’s needs,

along with delicate and meticulous treatment,

is important.

Thank you for reading.

This was Dr. Park Jeong-gi of Remember Dental Clinic at Seoul National University Entrance.

Treatment period: 2026.02.26 ~ 2026.03.06