What is Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Ritter and Ramsey General and Cosmetic Dentistry service Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and all of Palm Beach County, Florida.
Terms used in the dental field to describe restoring teeth on both arches include full mouth reconstruction, rehabilitation, or restoration. A full mouth reconstruction may involve specialists who work alongside your general dentist to provide you with the best care and results possible. Patients may require full mouth reconstruction due to:
- Dental trauma
- Extensive decay
- Long term acid erosion
- Jaw problems
What is the process for full mouth reconstruction?
To determine if you are a candidate for full mouth reconstruction, visit your dentist for a comprehensive examination and explain everything that concerns you. During your examination, your dentist will analyze your teeth, gum tissue, and jaw structure. They will likely require extensive x-rays, pictures, and impressions of both your upper and lower teeth.
While examining your teeth, your dentist will determine the specific condition of each tooth. Some teeth may be perfectly fine while others need a small filling or a full coverage crown. Any decay or fractures in your teeth will be charted during this exam.
Once your teeth have been thoroughly inspected, your dentist will examine your gum tissue to make sure that it is healthy and free of periodontal disease. If any infection is found in the gum tissue, your dentist may be able to treat it with a scaling and root planing but if the infection is too extensive, you may be referred to a periodontist who specializes in the care of gum tissue to get the tissue healthy.
For your jaw structure, your dentist will make sure that you have a stable bite with good occlusion. A lot of jaw pain can be resolved by simply correcting your bite. This may require the attention of an orthodontist.
Finally, your dentist will inspect the overall aesthetics of your teeth. This will include the alignment, color, shape, and size of your teeth. Sometimes patients have a gummy smile that is easily fixed with laser treatment.
After your dentist has completed their examination, they will create a treatment plan just for your individual case. This treatment plan will include estimated fees for each step and length of treatment. It is important to ask any questions that you may have concerning your treatment plan. Your doctor will want to make sure that you are comfortable with your pending treatment and that you understand exactly what will be involved.
What procedures are involved with full mouth reconstruction?
Everyone’s case is different; while some may require only one or two procedures, other patients may require multiple steps. Depending on your individual needs, procedures can include:
- prophylactic cleaning or a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) to eradicate periodontal disease
- crown lengthening, which is the removal of gum tissue to reveal more tooth structure
- laser therapy to contour gum tissue and correct an uneven gum line or a gummy smile
- placement of dental crowns, bridges, or veneers
- orthodontia to straighten teeth
- implant placement to restore a missing tooth
- bone grafting to stabilize or restore jaw structure
A full mouth reconstruction does usually involve multiple steps and many visits to your dentist. Depending on your case, treatment can take upwards of 12 months to complete, including healing time.
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