What is Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Full mouth reconstruction typically means general dentists or restorative dentists provide treatments such as crowns, veneers, bridges, or implants to rebuild or restore all your teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. The need for full mouth reconstruction can result from any of the following factors in your oral health:
- Lost teeth due to trauma or decay.
- Injured, fractured, or broken teeth.
- Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism.
- Teeth that have become severely worn as a result of long-term acidic erosion from foods, beverages, or acid reflux.
- Ongoing pain in the jaw and facial muscles, or headache pain requiring adjustment in your bite (known as occlusion).
Full mouth reconstruction can also involve dental specialists like oral surgeons, orthodontists (tooth movement and position), periodontists (gums), and endodontists (dentin, also called tooth pulp).
What is the Process for Full Mouth Restoration?
Your dentist will start with a comprehensive oral examination, including the following steps:
- Teeth. The condition of your teeth will determine what restorative procedures may be needed, such as veneers, crowns, bridges, or implants. Your dentist will look for cavities, cracks, worn teeth, short or long teeth, and any tooth movement.
- Gums. If your gums are not healthy, you may need treatment for periodontal disease, including scaling and root planing, or more intensive periodontic treatments to ensure that your newly reconstructed teeth will have a solid foundation. Your dentist will look for deep pockets in your gums, excessive or insufficient gum tissue, periodontal disease, and bone density irregularities. Treatment can involve soft tissue grafts or bone grafts to build up your gums and underlying jawbone.
- Bite. A proper bite—meaning no pain when you close your mouth or chew and a bite that does not cause wear on your teeth—is essential to your general oral health. You may require orthodontics, an occlusal night guard, or a bite reprogramming orthotic to correct occlusion before you undergo additional restorative procedures.
- Appearance. The color, shape, size, and proportion of your teeth and how they appear in relation to your gums, lips, mouth, side profile, and face are also important factors in full mouth reconstruction.
Additionally, to develop a complete treatment plan that best meets your needs, your dentist will obtain photos of your teeth; take full-mouth X-rays; make impressions of your upper and lower teeth; create a model of your bite; and recommend consultations with an oral surgeon, orthodontist, or periodontist.
Once your dentist has obtained the relevant information for your case, he or she will create a step-by-step treatment plan to correct the problems in your mouth and complete your full mouth reconstruction.
Is Full Mouth Reconstruction the Same as a Smile Makeover?
Full mouth reconstruction, also called rehabilitation or restoration, is something you need for your overall dental health. A smile makeover is elective treatment. If you need reconstruction, your dentist will provide you with durable, functional, and clinically sound treatment options that also look natural.
Though performed primarily to improve appearance, smile makeover treatments include many of the same procedures used for full mouth reconstruction. Whether your treatment is full mouth reconstruction or smile makeover, your dentist will strive to provide long-term health and stability for your teeth, gums, and mouth.
Am I a Candidate for Full Mouth Reconstruction?
If you think you might be a candidate for full mouth reconstruction, see your dentist for a comprehensive examination. Then discuss your treatment options and procedures that might be required for your case and under what circumstances. Only your dentist and the team of specialists working on your full mouth reconstruction can determine what is best for you individually.
Most full mouth reconstruction cases involve multiple stages and office visits. You should expect treatment to require 12 months or more, depending on your specific needs.
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