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In a lifetime, the tooth surface gradually wears out and the inner layer of a tooth, called the den- tin, thickens. Inevitably, teeth get stained and spaces develop in between. Thus, aesthetic rehabilita- tion has attracted public interest. When a tooth ages, it wears down; the contour changes and gaps occur. Evenly arranged, unworn teeth show vigor, so many patients visit their dental clinic with the dream of having young-looking teeth. For many, bleaching is sufficient if you want your teeth to have a lighter shade, and prosthodontic treatment is necessary to modify tooth size and shape, as well as gaps. Prosthodontic treatment is useful in that it can easily change a tooth’s shape in a short time. Depending on the degree of dental coverage, types of prosthodontic treatment range from crown to laminate. Prosthesis cementation after preparation of labial surface Laminate is a type of anterior tooth aesthetic treat- ment that involves slightly reducing labial surfaces and bonding thin, nail-like ceramic laminates onto the labial surfaces of the affected teeth. The main advantage of laminate veneers is conservation of tooth structure, but there are other factors to consider: The treatment is more difficult, the fees can be prohibitive and laminate veneers pose the risk of falling out or being damaged by trauma. Crown prothesis, by comparision, is made to enve- lope a tooth in order to prevent the restoration from falling out, but laminate involves the bonding of the prosthesis onto the tooth surface instead of enveloping it. Laminate veneers manufactured from dental ceram- ics are solid by forming a unit with teeth after bonding, laminate, aesthetic prosthodontic treatmen t For further information or reservations, call Ms. Kelly Soe, the English coordinator at Yonsei University Dental Hospital. +82 2 2228 8998 +82 2 363 0396 idc@yuhs.ac 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul www.yuhs.or.kr/ en/hospitals/dent_ hospital/Conserv_ dentist/Intro COLuMN • yoNSEI UNIvErSITy dENTAL hoSPITAL but a nonbonding area may exist in case tooth size needs to be increased due to spacing or a small tooth size. Therefore, if this area is traumatized, veneers may break or fall out. Also, laminate veneers are very com- parable to glass, so a sufficient thickness is essential for strength and uniform shade. Post-op shade maintenance care For the bonding of laminate veneers, it is crucial that a patient’s natural enamel remains intact. The reason for this is that laminate veneers bond better to the out- ermost layer — the enamel — than dentin. Laminate also requires the combination of four factors: meticu- lous analysis of occlusion, accurate treatment proce- dure, healthy gingiva and precise prosthesis, so it can often be a relatively complicated treatment. In addition, shade difference between a veneer and tooth may occur over time. To prevent this, regular checkups and maintenance are necessary for gingi- val health and the maintenance of one’s desired tooth shade. Joon-sung Shim, DDS, Ph.D. Professor & Chairman Department of Prosthodontics Yonsei University Dental Hospital Vice President Korean Academy of Oral & maxillofacial Implantology What is laminate? An aesthetic treatment that consists of slight labial reduction and bonding of thin, nail-like porcelain ve- neers onto the labial surface of the affected tooth. Advantage Requires less time than orthodontic treatment and forms aesthetically shaped teeth in uniform arrangement Disadvantage Expensive due to difficult technique; potential of falling out and breakage due to trauma Caution Shade difference between a veneer and tooth may occur after some time. Regular checkups and maintenance are required. Tip