Full mouth reconstruction, restoration, and rehabilitation are commonly used terms to refer to the process that involves rebuilding and restoration of all your teeth. The procedure involves both general and restorative treatments such as veneers, crowns, and bridges. However, there might be a need for a dental specialist like an endodontist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, or periodontist to get involved. The following reasons explain why you might require full mouth reconstruction.
- Ongoing headache, muscle, and jaw pain requiring adjustment to your bite.
- Severely worn-out teeth due to tooth grinding or long-term acid erosion.
- Fractured or injured teeth.
- Teeth lost due to trauma or decay.
The Process
To determine if you require a full mouth reconstruction, you need to visit your dentist who will perform a comprehensive examination. It will involve a complete examination of your mouth to determine the extent to which your teeth have been harmed. Thus, the dentist will list the treatment options which would be needed for correcting the damage. The dentist would check the following.
- Teeth: The restorative procedures needed for your teeth will depend on their condition. You might require implants, bridges, onlays, inlays, full-coverage crowns, or veneers for restoring your teeth. The dentist will look for signs of root canal issues, long/ short teeth, cracks, tooth wear, decay, and cavities.
- Gum Tissue: Next, the dentist will check to see if you have healthy gums. Chances are that you require root planing and scaling for treating periodontal disease. Intensive treatments might be required from a periodontist. It will help ensure that the reconstructed teeth have a strong foundation. You might need a bone graft or soft tissue graft for building the underlying jaw bone and gums. The dentist would also check for the insufficient gum tissue, excessive gum tissue, and deep pockets.
- Occlusion and Jaw Muscles: A stable bit is necessary for the proper functioning of your teeth and for achieving a beautiful smile. It prevents pain when chewing or closing your mouth. Occlusion changes might require the dentist to plan restoration. You might need orthodontics or any other type of treatment such as a bite reprogramming orthotic or night guard.
- Aesthetics: Finally, the dentist would inspect the aesthetics. They will look at the proportion, size, shape, and color of your teeth. Your face, side profile, mouth, lips, and gums would also be inspected.
Photographs and x-rays of your upper and lower teeth are needed for the examination process. To develop a treatment plan, the dentist might refer you to a specialist. Only when all relevant information has been obtained by the dentist would a step-by-step treatment plan be developed for correcting all the oral issues you face. The dentist will explain everything to you so that you do not have anything to worry about.
Procedures
The dentist along with the specialist will work on the full mouth reconstruction to determine the procedures that will be required. When you decide to undergo full mouth reconstruction, you will need to visit the dentist multiple times.
In fact, in certain cases, it can take about 12 months or more for the procedure to be completed. The following are some of the procedures that are commonly performed.
- Orthographic surgery for repositioning the jaw.
- Periodontal care and prophylactic teeth cleaning would be done.
- Contouring of gum tissues helps one achieve a balanced and harmonious smile.
- Crown lengthening for exposing sound and healthy tooth structure. It would include bridges or crowns.
- Prepare the natural tooth structure for the veneers, bridges, or crowns to be placed.
- Soft tissue or bone grafting for enhancing the stability of the teeth. Implants might also be needed for the restoration.
- Restoration and implant placement for replacing missing teeth. Bridge restorations for providing anchors.
- Orthodontics for moving the teeth into the optimal position for reconstruction.
- Placement of permanent restorations like bridges, onlays, inlays, veneers, and crowns. These can be made from ceramic or metal or a combination.
- Temporary restoration placement to ensure that the new teeth are accustomed to the new bite alignment or mouth.
Costs and Insurance Coverage
Full mouth reconstruction treatment can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 for a tooth. However, it is possible for the cost to exceed $45,000. If you have dental insurance, you can expect some of the costs to be covered. The treatment plan will be determined by the dentist. You can always ask the dentist for third-party financing options to ensure that you can pay for the procedure.