Gangdong-gu Front Tooth Cavities: Why Some Get Resin and Others Need Implants

Gangdong-gu Front Tooth Cavities: Why Some Get Resin and Others Need Implants — the 'decisive reason'

Hello.

I am the director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

Even though they come in with the same front tooth decay,

some patients only need a simple filling,

while others are told that the tooth must be extracted

and replaced with an implant.

We often come across cases like this~

They look like similar cavities on the surface,

so why does such an extreme difference happen?

Is it simply because the cavity is deep?

In fact, there is a scarier secret than that,

hidden around the tooth root.

Today, I’ll explain through a real case

why a tooth that looked fine on the outside

ended up needing an implant,

and what the 'real standard' is

that determines different treatments for each tooth.

Cavities you can see are not everything Gangdong-gu front tooth cavities: why some get resin and others need implants — the 'decisive reason'

A patient who visited our clinic recently

was dealing with a similar concern.

They said their front teeth seemed to be decaying overall,

and they felt stressed every time they looked in the mirror.

After a detailed examination of the mouth,

we found a total of five teeth that needed treatment.

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Front teeth, tooth condition Gangdong-gu front tooth cavities

1. Canines (#13, 23) The outer surface of the tooth had a slight cavity progression

2. Front tooth edge (#21) A slight fracture (chip) from biting food

3. Lateral incisors (#12, 22) A wide cavity area and severe wear

Among these, the biggest problem

was the right lateral incisor (#12).

At first glance,

there was still quite a bit of the tooth crown left,

so I thought, 'Maybe this can just be covered with a crown.'

But even with the lightest touch by hand,

it was in an unstable condition, wobbling weakly.

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To identify the exact cause,

we carefully analyzed the digital panoramic image and CT data.

The result was far more unfortunate than expected.

The #12 tooth had already lost the alveolar bone

all the way to the root tip due to chronic periodontitis.

On the CT, can you see that only a very small part of the root tip

is barely still supported by bone?

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Unfortunately, no matter how good a crown we placed,

the 'golden time' to save the tooth

had already been missed.

On the other hand, the adjacent #22 tooth had deep decay,

but because the bone supporting the root was strong,

we determined that it could be preserved and treated with a crown.

Treatment plan Gangdong-gu front tooth cavities

1. Conservative resin treatment (#13, 21, 23)

: Completed on the same day, the most economical method

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The canines (#13, 23), which did not have deep cavities, and the slightly chipped front tooth edge (#21),

were restored almost invisibly with tooth-colored resin,

while preserving as much of the original tooth structure as possible.

2. Zirconia crown (#22)

: The final step in preserving the tooth

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A tooth with deep decay and severe wear,

and therefore a high risk of fracture,

was planned to be covered with a durable zirconia crown.

3. Implant and bone graft (#12)

: Several months of time and cost required

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For a tooth with no bone left to support the root,

after extraction, we planned to place an implant together with a bone graft

that would rebuild the resorbed alveolar bone.

There is something important you should know here~

Even if the front teeth have the same cavity,

if the patient had come a little earlier,

#12 might also have been saved with a crown or resin

instead of needing an implant...

(So please~~ even if you’re afraid of the dentist,

do get a checkup at least once a year!!)

Different treatment processes for each tooth Gangdong-gu front tooth cavities: why some get resin and others need implants — the 'decisive reason'

1. Resin (#13, 21, 23)

Resin would be convenient if we could just fill it all at once,

but that makes micro-gaps more likely.

That’s why, even though it takes more effort,

we insist on the 'layering method,' in which thin layers are built up and hardened one by one.

That way, it fits the tooth tightly without gaps

and the natural translucency can also be preserved.

It also reflects my wish to preserve the tooth

as much as possible with minimal removal of the tooth itself. ^^

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2. Zirconia (#22)

A tooth that has already weakened from deep decay

cannot withstand resin alone.

In such cases, the best approach is to wrap the entire tooth

in durable zirconia and give it a 'protective shield.'

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3. Implant (#12)

We planted a new root in the area where the bone had already resorbed

and the tooth could no longer be saved.

It took about five months of 'waiting'

for the bone and implant to become one.

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I hope you think of this as the safest investment

when looking 20 years ahead.

After five months, rather than relying on guesswork,

we confirmed with objective data (machine readings)

that it had fully stabilized, and then completed the final prosthetic restoration.

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From resin to implant,

each tooth received a different treatment,

but if you look at the photos, it blends in with the surrounding teeth

and looks very natural, doesn’t it?

Because we carefully matched each detail,

including the tooth color and translucency,

we were able to complete a bright smile

that doesn’t stand out in any one spot. ^^

250424(before) 251226(after)

As in this case, even within the same mouth,

the treatment needed can differ

depending on the condition of each tooth.

The important thing is not to choose the most expensive treatment unconditionally,

but to honestly judge which method can extend the patient’s tooth life

the longest.

As I wrapped up this case,

I felt it once again.

The cheapest and fastest way to finish dental treatment

is ultimately

to come in as early as possible.

If the patient had come even a little earlier,

we might have been able to save

that precious tooth without needing an implant.

Thank you for reading this long post today. ^^

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Gangdong-gu front tooth cavities: why some get resin and others need implants — the 'decisive reason'

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02-481-4278

| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Advertisement Act. The information provided is for reference only, and we recommend that you visit a medical institution and receive guidance from medical professionals for symptom assessment and accurate management methods. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve individual risks (such as inflammation, bleeding, swelling, etc.). Please make decisions after sufficient consultation with medical professionals in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of patients who completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under identical conditions. |