Analysis Report

Minish Dental Hospital

Representative Director Haesung Kwak In-depth Analysis

Minish Solution Tooth Restoration Natural Tooth Preservation

Executive Summary

Minish Dental Hospital

A large-scale dental hospital with 14 floors in Gangnam, Seoul, providing aesthetic treatment and oral health restoration centered on its unique 'Minish' solution.

Director Haesung Kwak

A specialist in Integrated Dentistry (Ministry of Health and Welfare certified), overseeing treatments and acting as a speaker for the Minish Academy.

Minish Solution

Biomimetic technology compensating for veneer shortcomings (excessive tooth reduction), using specialized blocks developed with VITA (Germany) to minimize tooth reduction.

Reputation & Traits

High public awareness due to celebrity visits, but also controversy over high costs (750k-1.5M KRW/tooth) and overtreatment concerns. Responds with '10-year warranty' and 'genuine certification'.

Director Profile

Haesung Kwak

  • Education: Master of Dentistry, Chosun University
  • Qualifications: Specialist in Integrated Dentistry certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Major Career:
    • Current: Representative Director, Minish Dental Hospital
    • Former: Director, Apgujeong Today Dental
  • Academic Activities:
    • Regular member of the Korean Academy of Integrated Dentistry
    • Member of the Korean Academy of Esthetic Dentistry
    • Speaker for the Korean Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry

Expertise & Philosophy

  • Minish Academy Speaker: Leads technology standardization by educating dentists on Minish Prep, Scan, Bonding, Occlusion, etc.
  • Digital Dentistry Leader: Proficient in using latest digital equipment like Dentsply Sirona's 'Primescan' oral scanner.
  • Clinical Philosophy: Prioritizes preserving teeth without unnecessary reduction and strives to train juniors to provide better treatment options.

Hospital Information & Philosophy

Overview & Infrastructure

  • Location: Eonju-ro (Nonhyeon-dong), Gangnam-gu, Seoul, near Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam-gu Office Station.
  • Scale: Occupies an entire 14-story building, one of the largest dental hospitals in Korea.
  • Facilities:
    • 1:1 private treatment rooms for privacy.
    • In-house Minish Dental Lab with ~20 researchers, 9 milling machines, 6 scanners for One-Day treatment.
  • Operation System: Year-round (363 days) treatment, including weekdays and weekends.

Core Philosophy & Ecosystem

Minish Dental Hospital operates as a 'flagship store' and clinical research base for Minish Technology Co., Ltd., a medical tech company supplying materials, equipment, and IT solutions for the Minish solution.

It serves as the central axis for 'Minish Members Clinics (MMC)' nationwide, disseminating the Minish solution technology and upholding a philosophy of 'natural tooth preservation' and advanced 'tooth restoration'.

Core Technology: MINISH Solution

What is Minish?

Minish stands for 'Minimal Invasive', 'Natural Image', and 'Successful Health'. It is a biomimetic treatment method that restores damaged teeth by covering them with a material whose physical properties are most similar to natural enamel.

One-Day System

Minish offers a 'One-Day System': morning consultation & diagnosis (3D scan), immediate design & manufacturing (milling) at the in-house lab, and completion of setting & attachment in the afternoon.

Minish vs. Laminate (Veneers)

Minish Dental Hospital emphasizes that Minish is fundamentally different from existing laminates:

Laminate (Veneers)

  • Mainly aesthetic improvement (tooth reshaping)
  • Significant tooth reduction (0.5~0.7mm or more)
  • General Porcelain, Ceramic material
  • Mainly front teeth reshaping
  • Mechanical bonding focus

Minish

  • Tooth health recovery and aesthetic improvement (tooth restoration)
  • Minimize unnecessary reduction (0.1mm~ ultra-thin), enamel preservation
  • Minish Block: Feldspar-based ceramic co-developed with VITA, Germany
  • Can restore full arch (front, molars, worn teeth, receding gums, etc.)
  • Chemical bonding (tooth and restoration become one unit)

Core Technological Competence

1. Minish Block

Uses exclusive blocks supplied through a partnership with VITA Zahnfabrik (Germany), evaluated to have physical properties most similar to natural teeth (abrasion resistance, transparency, thermal expansion).

2. Ultra-precision Processing

Secured ultra-precision milling technology capable of processing down to 0.1mm thickness through collaboration with semiconductor equipment companies.

3. Bonding Technology

Key know-how to perfectly adhere thin restorations to teeth, preventing secondary caries by eliminating gaps between teeth and restorations.

Reputation and Market Analysis

Positive Reputation & Achievements

  • Celebrity Marketing: Numerous top stars (Blackpink's Lisa, Girls' Generation's Tiffany, Ma Dong-seok) have received treatment, significantly boosting reliability and brand value.
  • Global Expansion: Considered a 'K-Medical' success story, with dentists from Japan, Vietnam, and the US completing the Minish Academy and adopting the technology.
  • Technical Satisfaction: High patient satisfaction due to minimal natural tooth grinding and immediate return to daily life post-procedure.

Controversies & Critical Perspectives

  • High Cost: Minish treatment costs approximately 750,000 to 1.5 million KRW per tooth, perceived as expensive compared to general laminates.
  • Overtreatment Controversy: Criticisms regarding aggressive marketing and recommendations for expensive procedures, defended by Minish as a 'natural tooth preservation' philosophy.
  • Confusion of Terms: Other clinics may use similar names for general laminates. Minish protects its brand through 'Genuine Certificates' and the 'Minish Members Clinic (MMC)' system.
  • Consumer Reaction: High aesthetic satisfaction, but price burden is a common concern. A 10-year warranty program builds trust for post-procedure maintenance.

Conclusion

Minish Dental Hospital and Representative Director Haesung Kwak occupy a unique position in the Korean dental market by presenting a new paradigm of 'Tooth Restoration'. The **Minish Solution** has evolved into medical technology applying biomimetics beyond simple aesthetic molding, building technical entry barriers through cooperation with VITA and operation of its own dental lab. Although there are some concerns about high costs and aggressive marketing, the expansion into the global market with **natural tooth preservation** as a core value is noteworthy. Director Haesung Kwak plays a key role in improving clinical completeness and standardizing technology through education within this system.

Natural Tooth Preservation Biomimetic Technology Global Expansion