한국어 
简体中文 AESTHETIC
Aesthetic Prosthodontics
We restore chipped or discolored front teeth and gaps between teeth to a natural look. Among the methods that can achieve the goal, we consider the one that removes the least tooth structure first.
Dr. Jeong Jinwoo (board-certified prosthodontist · specialist in integrated dentistry) · written and reviewed · last reviewed
The short answer
Do my front teeth have to be ground down to fix them?
Not necessarily. If color is the only issue, whitening; for a narrow gap or a small chip, resin that requires no grinding often solves it. Laminate veneers remove only a thin layer from the front, while crowns grind the whole tooth, so we first use diagnosis to sort out the method that fits the extent of damage and the goal.
A tooth once ground down cannot be restored. So rather than "which prosthesis to do," Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon first explains "whether a prosthesis is really needed, and if so, how little can be removed," and bonds only after checking color and shape together at the try-in stage.
How does aesthetic prosthodontic treatment proceed?
Resin is finished on the same day, but laminate veneers and crowns go through design → preparation → temporary → fabrication → try-in and bonding, usually over 2–3 visits and 1–3 weeks.
- Diagnosing the cause. We first sort out whether what bothers you about your front teeth is color, shape or size, a gap, a chip or decay, or the gum line. Q-ray quantitative light-induced fluorescence checks for hidden decay and cracks, and we look at grinding habits, bite and gum condition. Depending on the cause, whitening, orthodontics or resin may come before a prosthesis, so alternatives are compared together at this stage.
- Design — previewing scan, color and shape. The teeth and gums are scanned with an intraoral scanner (TRIOS 6), and the color of neighboring teeth is recorded with a shade guide (Korean). When changing several front teeth, a mock-up (Korean) (temporary material placed in the mouth in the new shape) is used first to check length, width and harmony with the lip line, to gauge the result before any grinding.
- Tooth preparation — as little as possible. The amount removed differs greatly by method. Resin removes almost nothing, laminate veneers (Korean) remove a thin layer from the front (about 0.3–0.7 mm), and crowns (Korean) remove enough to cover the whole tooth. Because preparation cannot be undone, Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon considers, among the methods that can achieve the goal, the one that removes the least first. For anesthesia, a computer-controlled anesthesia device (i-JECT) is used.
- Temporary prosthesis. For the 1–2 weeks while the final prosthesis is made after the impression, temporary teeth (Korean) are attached to prevent sensitivity and to try out the shape in advance. What you notice at this time (length, speech, bite) is reflected in the final prosthesis.
- Fabrication — choosing the material. For areas visible when smiling, color and translucency come first; for areas taking a lot of force, strength comes first. Which of zirconia (Korean), e.max (lithium disilicate) (Korean) or PFM suits is decided by looking at tooth position, biting force and the color of neighboring teeth together. It is made precisely from scan data, and a color that matches neighboring teeth is reproduced by building up several layers.
- Try-in and bonding. Before bonding, the finished prosthesis is placed temporarily to check color, shape, margins and bite in both natural and indoor light. If anything needs changing it is corrected, then the tooth surface and the inside of the prosthesis are each treated and bonded. For laminate veneers, this bonding process determines how long they last.
- Regular checkups and care. One to two weeks after bonding we check the bite and gum response, and then every 6 months to a year we check for decay at the margins, gums and wear. If you grind your teeth, a protective appliance worn at night is used as well. Ceramic resists staining, but the natural tooth at the margin can still decay, so care is needed.
The director (a board-certified prosthodontist) personally handles everything from diagnosis and design to preparation, bonding and later care. The exact timeline and number of visits depend on the method and number of teeth, and are explained at the consultation.
Resin, laminate veneers and crowns: what is the difference?
| Item | Resin | Laminate veneer | Crown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth reduction | None or minimal | Thin layer from the front | Enough to cover the whole tooth |
| Typically used for | Small decay, discoloration, shape correction, narrow gaps | Color and shape of front teeth, slight gaps | After root canal treatment, badly damaged teeth |
| Stain resistance | May stain over time | Ceramic, so resists staining | Ceramic, so resists staining |
| Fabrication | Filled directly on the same day | Made after an impression (about 2 visits) | Made after an impression (about 2 visits) |
| Repair | Easy to repair partially | Usually remade if fractured | Usually remade if fractured |
* A general comparison; an accurate diagnosis and costs are given individually at the consultation. — As of September 2026
The difference in reduction is larger than you might think. Preparing a front tooth for a crown removes about 63–72% of the tooth structure above the gum, whereas a laminate veneer has been reported to remove a quarter to a half of that.[1] If the same result can be achieved, the left-hand column comes before the right.
Zirconia, e.max, PFM: how is the material chosen?
| Material | Strength | Translucency · aesthetics | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zirconia | Very high | Moderate (recently improved translucent types) | Molar crowns, high-force areas, bridges |
| e.max (lithium disilicate) | Medium | Good | Laminate veneers, crowns where color and translucency matter, premolars |
| PFM (metal + porcelain) | High | Moderate (the inner metal may make the gum line look darker) | A long-used method, molars |
| Composite resin | Moderate | Good (stains over time) | Small restorations, resin veneers, narrow gaps |
There is no "best material"; each position has a material that suits it. For front teeth, translucency that lets light through comes first; for molars, strength to withstand chewing comes first. If you grind your teeth or the opposing teeth are weak, a very strong material can actually wear down the opposing teeth, so this is considered too. We explain at the consultation which material is used and why.
How is the cost determined?
The cost of aesthetic prosthodontics is made up of the factors below.
- Number of teeth and method — Varies with which of resin, laminate veneers or crowns is done and on how many teeth. When several front teeth are done together, the number may increase for left–right symmetry.
- Material — Varies with the material and fabrication method, such as zirconia, e.max, PFM or resin.
- Preliminary treatment — Root canal treatment, a post, gum contouring or crown lengthening, or whitening needed first is charged separately.
- Temporary prosthesis · mock-up — When designing several front teeth, the mock-up and temporary prosthesis stages are included.
Health insurance. Aesthetic prosthodontics aimed at improving color or shape, such as laminate veneers and all-ceramic crowns, is not covered by Korean national health insurance. Procedures that are in the nature of treating decay or fractures may be covered depending on the item, and after diagnosis we explain item by item which parts are covered and which are not.
Non-covered costs vary individually with the method, material and number of teeth, so they are explained item by item at the consultation after the detailed diagnosis. Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon does not give an estimate with the number of teeth fixed before diagnosis.
What you can know before the consultation
- The base unit is one tooth, and resin, laminate veneers and all-ceramic crowns are separate items.
- Aesthetic prosthodontics aimed at improving color or shape is not covered by Korean national health insurance. Procedures in the nature of treating decay or fractures may be covered depending on the item.
- Whether pre-treatment diagnostic photos, intraoral scans and temporary teeth are included depends on the method, so we check item by item at the consultation.
- Non-covered fees are quoted at the same amount as the fee schedule posted in the clinic, and we do not run discounts or promotional prices.
What is decided after examination
- Resin, laminate veneer or crown — methods with less tooth reduction are considered first, and the choice is made after looking at the remaining tooth structure and the bite.
- Number of teeth — decided by the range visible when smiling and left–right symmetry; we do not fix the number before a diagnosis.
- Material — depends on color matching, thickness and biting force.
- When it is finalized — after the detailed diagnosis, costs by method, number and material are explained at the consultation, and treatment starts after your consent.
Fees for each non-covered item and their reference date are published on our non-covered fee notice. The amounts and item names on that page are the official notice in Korean.Non-covered treatment fees →
When other treatment may suit better
- · When the position or alignment of the teeth needs to move — hiding it with a prosthesis means removing more tooth structure, so an orthodontic consultation comes first.
- · If the discoloration comes from inside the tooth (nerve damage or medication), we consider root canal treatment or whitening first depending on the cause (Korean). If color is the only problem and the tooth is healthy, whitening, which requires no grinding, comes first.
- · When grinding or clenching is severe — the risk of ceramic fracture is high, so we manage the cause and use a protective appliance, and choose the material conservatively.
- · When the gums are swollen or receding — gum treatment comes first. Margins made on inflamed gums do not last long.
- · When decay or a fracture is small enough that a resin filling is sufficient — we do not enlarge it into a prosthesis.
Nothing hidden
How long does aesthetic prosthodontic work last? Side effects and limitations
A ground-down tooth cannot be restored. Preparing a front tooth for a crown has been reported to remove about 63–72% of the crown (the part of the tooth above the gum), and a laminate veneer a quarter to a half of that.[1] A tooth once ground down needs a prosthesis for life, so "removing less" comes before "making it pretty." Where possible, no-prep or minimal-prep (Korean) methods are considered.
Lifespan of crowns. A systematic review pooling studies of single crowns reported 5-year survival rates of about 94.7% for metal-ceramic (PFM), about 96.6% for glass-ceramics such as lithium disilicate, and about 92.1% for zirconia.[2] However, zirconia crowns had a higher rate of technical problems such as chipping of the outer porcelain, and the same study did not recommend them as the first choice. Each material has its pros and cons, so we choose to suit the position.
Lifespan and fracture of laminate veneers. A meta-analysis pooling 13 clinical studies of ceramic laminate veneers found a cumulative survival rate of about 89% at a median of 9 years of follow-up (94% for glass-ceramics, 87% for feldspathic porcelain); the most common problem was fracture or chipping (about 4%), followed by debonding (about 2%).[3] Being thin, they can break, and if they break they usually need to be remade.
Sensitivity and nerve problems. There may be temporary sensitivity after preparation, and rarely (about 2% for laminate veneers[3]) nerve inflammation may require root canal treatment. The likelihood increases with more reduction and with deeper original decay, so we tell you in advance at the diagnosis stage.
Margin discoloration and gum response. The boundary between the prosthesis and the tooth (the margin (Korean)) may stain or decay over time, and if the gums recede the margin may become visible. Placing the margin under the gum looks better but can strain the gum, so its position is decided by looking at gum condition.
A perfect color match is difficult. Natural teeth vary in color and translucency from area to area and look different under different lighting. Matching a single tooth exactly to its neighbors is the hardest case; we check together at the try-in stage before bonding. Ceramic cannot be changed in color by whitening later, so whitening is done before the prosthesis.
No treatment is free of side effects. Aesthetic prosthodontics shows its result right away, so expectations are high, but knowing the above before you start is what avoids regret.
Survival rates by material, and why debonding, chipping and decay at the margins occur, and what we check before making a prosthesis, are covered separately in our crown and bridge lifespan guide.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1 When is aesthetic prosthodontics considered?
When a tooth is badly damaged by decay or fracture, or discoloration or shape needs improving, we recommend a suitable method after diagnosis. Laminate veneers usually take 2 visits over about 1–2 weeks.
Q2 My front tooth is chipped or discolored. Can it look natural?
Based on data scanned with TRIOS, a prosthodontist makes an aesthetic prosthesis (all-ceramic, laminate veneer, etc.) matched in color and shape to blend with the neighboring teeth. We check it together at the try-in stage before bonding.
Q3 Can gaps between front teeth be improved without orthodontics?
If the gap is not large, laminate veneers or resin can make it look narrower. If the gap is wide or the tooth axis needs to move, orthodontics is more suitable; we explain after diagnosis.
Q4 Does a lot of tooth need to be ground down?
It depends on the method. Resin involves almost no reduction, laminate veneers remove a thin layer from the front, and crowns remove enough to cover the whole tooth. Methods with less reduction are considered first whenever possible.
Q5 How long does it last?
It depends on the material and how it is cared for. In the literature, 5-year survival of single crowns is generally 92–97%, and ceramic laminate veneers about 89% at around 9 years of follow-up. Regular checkups and managing grinding extend their lifespan.
Q6 I stopped treatment partway at another clinic. Can you continue it?
Yes. We check the state of the previous treatment carefully and then continue. We assess your current condition with a detailed diagnosis and draw up a new plan for the remaining treatment.
Q7 What is the difference between laminate veneers and resin veneers?
Resin veneers are built up directly with resin on the same day, involve almost no reduction and are easy to repair, but stain over time. Ceramic laminate veneers are made from an impression and require thinly grinding the front, but keep their color longer and have a smooth surface. If the gap is narrow and the tooth is healthy, resin is considered first.
Q8 Does the procedure hurt?
When reduction is needed, it is done under local anesthesia, so there is little pain during the procedure. Teeth may be sensitive for a few days afterward, and temporary teeth protect them. No-prep resin can usually be done without anesthesia.
Q9 Should I have whitening first?
The color of a prosthesis cannot be changed later, so if you want the surrounding teeth brighter, whitening is done first and the prosthesis is made to match the stabilized color. There is usually a gap of about 2 weeks between whitening and the prosthesis.
Q10 Does ceramic also change color over time?
Ceramic itself resists staining, but the margins or bonding material can stain, and if the surrounding natural teeth change it may look relatively different. We polish and check at regular checkups.
Q11 What if it breaks?
Small chips can sometimes be fixed by polishing or resin repair, but if it breaks badly it is usually remade. If grinding is the cause, remaking it without a protective appliance can lead to another fracture, so we manage the cause as well.
References
- Edelhoff D, Sorensen JA. Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs for anterior teeth. J Prosthet Dent. 2002;87(5):503-509. — Preparing an anterior crown removes about 63–72% of the coronal tooth structure; laminate veneers and resin bonding remove 1/4–1/2 of that.
- Sailer I, Makarov NA, Thoma DS, Zwahlen M, Pjetursson BE. All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs)? A systematic review of the survival and complication rates. Part I: Single crowns (SCs). Dent Mater. 2015;31(6):603-623. — 5-year survival of single crowns: metal-ceramic 94.7%, glass-ceramic 96.6%, zirconia 92.1%; zirconia had a higher rate of technical problems.
- Morimoto S, Albanesi RB, Sesma N, Agra CM, Braga MM. Main clinical outcomes of feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival and complication rates. Int J Prosthodont. 2016;29(1):38-49. — Ceramic laminate veneers: cumulative survival 89% at a median of 9 years (glass-ceramic 94%, feldspathic 87%); fracture/chipping 4%, debonding 2%, nerve problems 2%.
RESERVATION
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33 m from Exit 1, Bongcheon Station (Line 2) · Directions from Bongcheon Station →
This page was written and reviewed by Director Jeong Jinwoo (board-certified prosthodontist and specialist in integrated dentistry) of Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon, based on standard dental knowledge and the literature above. The director personally handles everything from diagnosis and design to preparation, bonding and regular care. It is intended as general information; individual treatment plans and costs are given after a detailed diagnosis and consultation.
Last updated: 2026-09-23