Burtigogae Station Dental Clinic: Restoring Chipped and Worn Teeth

Burtigogae Station Dental Clinic: Restoring Chipped and Worn Teeth

Hello.

I am Dr. Kim Tae-young, the head director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic,

where the head director personally explains treatment cases.

Occasionally, some individuals have teeth that are significantly worn down and chipped.

What causes tooth fracture and wear?

This is often observed in middle-aged and older Koreans who frequently consume tough and hard foods.

Beyond dietary habits, fracture and wear can be seen from the front teeth to the molars in individuals who grind their teeth, clench their jaws tightly, or have strong masticatory muscle function.

My previously crowned tooth fell out, and my tooth is chipped.

The crown portion of the second premolar in the upper left jaw was fractured.

Although it was previously crowned, the neck of the tooth, which appeared black, developed decay, weakening the tooth structure. The patient visited us after the crown portion fractured due to repeated excessive occlusal force.

How can we infer that the patient's weak tooth area fractured due to excessive occlusal force?

We can deduce this by examining the teeth surrounding the fractured tooth.

In the past, the upper and lower molars likely underwent crown treatment due to fracture, or extraction and implant treatment.

Since implant prosthetics provide greater chewing power than natural teeth, the surrounding teeth were significantly fractured and worn down due to the chewing activity.

This is a lateral view.

A significant portion of the tooth at the cervical area, often called the ‘neck’ of the tooth, is chipped.

This also appears to be a tooth fracture due to excessive chewing force.

Is it okay to treat only the broken tooth?

The patient was most bothered by the broken tooth.

This tooth was extracted, and an implant was placed. We waited approximately 3 months for osseointegration with the surrounding bone.

However, there were several issues with just fabricating the implant prosthesis:

First, there was insufficient space.

Second, the opposing teeth on the other side had already undergone changes in shape due to fracture and wear, making it impossible to establish proper occlusion.

Third, once the implant is completed, the opposing teeth would have a high probability of future fracture due to excessive occlusal force.

For these reasons, from a long-term perspective, prosthetic treatment of the surrounding teeth was necessary to establish proper occlusion. We explained these reasons in detail to the patient, who understood the necessity of the treatment and proceeded with prosthetic treatment concurrently.

Restoration of Tooth Shape and Occlusion

This is an X-ray image after treatment.

The white areas indicate teeth restored with prosthetics.

The treatment was completed while maintaining the vitality of the teeth, without root canal treatment.

With regular check-ups, the lifespan of the teeth will increase compared to their previous fractured state.

These are intraoral photographs. The two photos on the left show the teeth before treatment, and the two photos on the right show them after treatment.

The existing teeth were restored with zirconia prosthetics, and for the insured implant, a metal occlusal surface was chosen to support the chewing force.

By restoring the shape of the worn teeth, a balanced occlusion of the upper and lower molars was achieved, applying uniform occlusal force to all four molars.

Do worn teeth always need to be crowned?

It is not always necessary to crown worn teeth that occur during daily life.

However, if the tooth fracture has progressed to the point where the tooth's shape has changed,

or if wear occurs on all molars, both left and right, changing the occlusal height and even altering the facial appearance,

prosthetic treatment is recommended.

Today, at #BurtigogaeDentalClinic,

we discussed treatment methods for severely fractured/worn teeth.

I believe that if treatment is planned appropriately for necessary situations,

it is a good treatment method that allows natural teeth to be used for a long time and postpones the time of extraction as much as possible.

I hope your questions have been answered, and I will return with the next case.

Thank you.^^

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We believe that proper treatment leads to proper results. My goal is to create a trustworthy dental clinic where everyone who visits with worries can leave feeling relieved. – Bareunyoung Dental Clinic –

Directions: JYJ Building, 2nd floor, 179 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu. Right in front of Exit 6 of Yaksu Station, towards Yaksu Market. Use Village Bus No. 5 (Yaksu Station), Village Bus No. 12 (Namsan Town, Yaksu Police Station), or bus stops (Yaksu Heights, Sindang Social Welfare Center, Gaon Library, Kumho Tunnel Entrance). From Yuyu Pharma towards Kumho Station.

This post was written directly by Bareunyoung Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information and hospital advertising (in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main causes of chipped or worn teeth?

Mainly, tooth fracture and wear occur due to dietary habits of enjoying tough and hard foods, teeth grinding, clenching the jaw tightly, and strong masticatory muscle function.

Is it okay to treat only a broken tooth?

No, rather than treating only the broken tooth, treatment considering the condition of surrounding teeth and overall occlusion may be necessary. This is because excessive occlusal force can increase the likelihood of fracture in other teeth.

Do worn teeth always need to be crowned?

No. It is not always necessary to crown worn teeth that do not interfere with daily life. However, if the fracture or wear is severe enough to change the tooth's shape, or if it affects the occlusal height and even the facial appearance due to wear on all molars, prosthetic treatment is recommended.

How is tooth shape and occlusion restoration treatment performed?

It may involve implant placement along with prosthetic treatment of surrounding teeth. The shape of worn teeth is restored with zirconia prosthetics, and a balanced occlusion is achieved by applying uniform occlusal force.

What is the lifespan of teeth after treatment?

With regular check-ups and management, the lifespan of the teeth can be extended compared to their previous fractured state. Appropriate treatment planning can help use natural teeth for a long time and postpone the time of extraction as much as possible.