“Can’t you give me a pretty front tooth with less teeth?”
This is a question that has always been on Dr. Pilsang Yoon’s mind as he works in the Prosthodontics Department at Gangnam Severance, where he reworks prostheses from other dental clinics. Skeptical of the textbook method of shaving off a tooth to make a crown, he learned about Minish’s “preserve the tooth as much as possible” approach and joined shortly after graduating from university hospital.
His experience as a prosthodontist at a university hospital has been invaluable at Minish. He finds it particularly rewarding when he can use his occlusal knowledge to solve retreatment cases that have failed at other dental practices.
When a patient who had been re-treated twice with no resolution said, “It doesn’t bother me anymore,” and when his father, who was indifferent to his appearance, beamed after Minish, saying, “My breath doesn’t smell and my mouth is clean,” he knew he had made the right choice. The following is a one-liner.
Q. Why did you move from University Hospital to Minish?
Textbook crown and laminate treatments are based on the principle of “thicker is stronger and longer lasting,” and the question has always been how much tooth should be shaved off.
I suddenly thought, “Why can’t I have a beautiful front tooth with less teeth?” Then I learned that Minish Dental Clinic treats teeth as conservatively as possible, and I knew I wanted to work there after graduating from university.
The reaction around us was half curiosity and half skepticism because it was such an innovative way of practicing. Among dentists, especially prosthodontists, the main question was, “If you don’t shave and thin the teeth like that, will they fall out and break?
But these days, more people than ever recognize the excellence of Minish’s care.
Q. Is there a moment when you realized you were glad you joined Minish?
I found it to be as organized as a university hospital, but with the passion of not only the doctors, but also the entire staff.
It was impressive to see that they were already providing great quality care, but they were meeting every day to see if there were any gaps and if there were any things that patients were not comfortable with.
One patient in particular stands out in my mind. She was a woman with severe tooth wear due to reflux esophagitis and frequent soda drinking, and at a university hospital, I would have done a full crown.
However, with Minish, I was able to do a nearly tooth-saving treatment with Minish, not only on the front teeth, but also on the molars.
When I realized that I had saved more patients’ teeth than I had at my university hospital, I knew I had made the right decision to join Minish.
Q. I gave my father a Minish treatment.
My dad was never a big fan of his appearance, but after the treatment, he smiled more, dressed brighter, and made a better impression.
The most satisfying part is that the food that used to be stuck after every meal is gone, and the breath is very clean with no bad odor. She’s happy with the aesthetics and functionality.
I felt confident recommending it to my family because I knew it would preserve their teeth as much as possible, and it would also be effective in preventing cavities and gum disease in later life.
Q. You see a lot of repeat patients, what are the biggest reasons for dental treatment failures?
There are many reasons for treatment failure, but in my opinion, the biggest one is loss of trust. It’s one thing to be dissatisfied with the outcome of the treatment itself, but it’s another to have the trust between the doctor and the patient break down due to unexpected results or insufficient explanations.
Rehabilitation is difficult because it’s all about rebuilding that broken relationship.
Q. Do you have a favorite returning patient?
I remember a woman who was unhappy with her teeth because they were protruding and looking large after being treated with ‘no laminate’ at another dentist. She had two retreatments and it didn’t work, and she even had soreness.
We redesigned his bite and design from scratch using the Minish method, and he said, “It doesn’t bother me anymore.” It’s rewarding to see him so satisfied that he doesn’t feel the need to come back except for regular checkups.
Q. How is your experience with re-treatment at a university hospital being utilized at Minish?
My in-depth study of occlusion in prosthodontics has been very helpful. I can quickly diagnose cases that have failed due to occlusal issues and re-treat them appropriately.
A middle-aged woman came in with wobbly front tooth crowns and a diagnosis that she needed to have several removed and implants placed. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that her anterior bite was overreaching. A simple bite adjustment resolved the pain and wobbling.
We’ve earned your trust, so you keep coming back to us, even if you live far away.
Q. Bite problems, when can a patient suspect it in themselves?
If you feel a foreign object or discomfort in a specific area while eating, you may be suspicious. If you experience frequent jaw fatigue or recurring symptoms, it may be time to have your bite checked.
Q. How do you engage with patients for ‘natural design’?
“Natural” is such a nebulous concept, and different people have different standards.
I remember early on, I had a woman bring in a photo and I said, “Are you confident that you can make this look natural, not contrived?” We had a 20 minute consultation to figure out exactly what you felt was natural.
I have a good conversation with the patient, recalling similar cases based on the data I’ve accumulated. Together, we’ll figure out what shapes are unnatural and what kind of laugh you like.
And to the craftsmen, I’m specific, like “I want you to make it like ○○○”. Design is a collaboration.
Q. What is the most important aspect of caring for older patients?
Maintenance. Same with implants and dentures, regular checkups are important, but it’s also important that the patient is able to clean themselves well, especially older patients, who are less able to clean between their teeth and are more susceptible to root decay and gum disease.
So when we design the Minish, we try to make it easier for younger patients to clean their gums. For those who may not be able to do it on their own, we can open up the gum space between the teeth, the so-called black triangle, a little bit, so that water can flow in and out and clean better when you’re brushing.
We’re trying to figure out how well the patient will be able to brush and design the minish shape accordingly.
Q. Please tell us about your strengths.
I think we’re good at finding the cause of discomfort after treatment, because I’ve seen a lot of people come to us after a private dental treatment at a university hospital because they don’t feel comfortable.
We use that experience to ensure that you are well cared for and comfortable after your treatment.
Q. Do you have any plans to study the long-term data from Minish and publish any papers or conferences in the future?
We plan to publish long-term data on minimally invasive treatments. Some dentists are still skeptical about the long-term stability of miniclear treatment and opt for traditional crowns.
We want to prove to the dental community with real clinical data that Minish not only protects teeth but also “lasts”.
Q. Do you have any personal goals you would like to accomplish at Minish in the future?
I want to educate the professional community about Minish because it’s more advanced than traditional restorative dentistry and it’s not in the textbooks yet.
Our goal is that one day Minish will be proudly featured in the textbooks of dental school students, and that the names of our Minish dental doctors will be in the same book.
