What Are My Full Mouth Reconstruction Options?
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Full mouth reconstruction is a complex procedure that may be recommended when someone is struggling with more serious dental problems. It differs from a smile makeover, in which treatments are cosmetically oriented and will not necessarily benefit dental health. It is suitable when a patient has missing teeth, decayed or infected teeth, gum disease, or other dental issues.
Treatment aims to restore dental health, ensure teeth function properly, and restore facial appearance. Numerous treatment options are available, and most people will need several procedures. The treatments recommended will depend on the problems requiring correction.
In this article, you will learn which treatments may be used during a full mouth reconstruction and how they can help.
Treatments can include:
Dentures are used to replace several missing teeth or complete arches of teeth using partial or full dentures. This treatment is the least invasive and quicker to complete, and patients receive artificial teeth supported on an acrylic base plate. The prosthesis is removable and must be left out overnight to allow the gums to recover.
The acrylic base plate fits directly over the gums. A partial denture is often strengthened with a lightweight metal framework and has metal clasps that fit around existing teeth to help secure the denture in the mouth.
A partial or full denture can restore a patient’s appearance and ensure they can eat reasonably well. However, dentures can cause problems, especially in the longer term, as they don’t fit very well and have limited biting strength.
Dental crowns can restore teeth that are broken down or decayed. They can also cover teeth that are too small or oddly shaped. Dental bridges replace missing teeth using crowns for support. These crowns are fitted over the teeth adjacent to the gap, holding one or more replacement teeth between them. Each replacement tooth is called a pontic and is designed to look and feel natural, resting directly on the gum beneath.
Dental crowns and bridges are permanently fitted in place and, unlike dentures, are non-removable. They provide reasonable biting and chewing strength, prevent teeth from shifting out of place, and help restore appearance. Both crowns and bridges can be made from porcelain and look extremely lifelike.
Read More: Dental Implants: A 5-Step Plan to Restoring Your Teeth
Veneers are a more cosmetically oriented treatment often found in smile makeovers. They can mend small chips or cracks in teeth and are used to cover the surfaces of front teeth to create a more cosmetically appealing smile. Veneers are permanently bonded onto the tooth surfaces and are made from durable, hard-wearing porcelain.
Dental fillings restore teeth with small cavities, where much of the original structure remains intact. These fillings can be made from tooth-coloured composite resin and are applied chairside.
An inlay or onlay is slightly different and can be made from durable porcelain but must be fabricated outside of the mouth. These restorations are used when someone has a larger cavity in one of the chewing surfaces of their back teeth, like the molars and premolars. After the cavity is prepared, an impression is taken, and the inlay or onlay is created in the dental lab. It is then fitted in the tooth and bonded permanently in place.
If a tooth is severely decayed or has suffered significant trauma, the dental pulp in its center can become infected or inflamed. The pulp is a collection of tissues that includes connective tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. It extends into the root canals’ tooth roots.
Root canal treatment removes these tissues, and the dentist uses specialized tools to reshape the root canals before the space is thoroughly irrigated and disinfected. The tooth is then permanently sealed. It is protected with a dental crown because it has most likely lost much of its structure.
Root canal therapy is a great treatment for saving badly infected teeth and is far preferable to tooth extraction, which is the only other treatment option.
Read More: How Long Does It Take for a Dental Bone Graft to Heal?
Periodontal treatment is used to treat gum disease, an infection where the gums and other structures around the teeth become infected, including the jawbone. Gum or periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss and requires specialized dental care from a periodontist.
A periodontist can examine the gums and bone around teeth and use the most up-to-date surgical and nonsurgical treatments to help eliminate or control the infection. Severe periodontal disease can become chronic, requiring ongoing care to control it as it cannot be eliminated.
Treatment aims to get rid of the infection so the gums and jawbone can heal effectively. Often, laser dentistry is used to treat gum disease as it helps to sterilize the gums, destroying more of the infectious bacteria causing this condition. A periodontist can also provide bone and gum grafting treatments to restore tissues destroyed by gum disease and hopefully save teeth from extraction.
When teeth are significantly crooked or out of place, it can make them much harder to keep clean. It can also place certain teeth under stress and even affect the jaw joints, causing them to become inflamed. When jaw joints are inflamed, they can become extremely painful, resulting in a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Realigning teeth using braces or other orthodontic treatments can help ensure they are easier to keep clean. Treatment can also close or minimize unsightly gaps between teeth that may act as food traps. Straighter teeth can also look more attractive, wear down more evenly, and make it easier to eat comfortably.
Undeniably the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, dental implants restore the entire tooth, including its root. Treatment is sophisticated, long-lasting, and extremely versatile. There are multiple implant treatments available that can replace single, multiple, or complete arches of teeth with restorations that can be fixed or removable.
Options include single dental implants consisting of a single implant post that supports a dental crown. Two or more implants can support a dental bridge without cutting down healthy teeth for crowns. It is even possible to replace a complete arch of teeth with a dental implant bridge permanently fixed in place. The result is teeth that have a similar biting strength to natural teeth.
Yet another option is to have an implant denture that looks like an ordinary denture that clips firmly onto the implants, eliminating many of the problems associated with this restoration. An implant denture has far better biting strength and cannot move well clipped in place.
The best dentist to see for dental implants is a periodontist, especially as many people with missing teeth will also have gum disease and other problems requiring additional treatments like gum and bone grafting.
A periodontist has years of additional training in completing these treatments and can provide the best and most advanced implant procedures. They can also liaise with other dentists to complete a full mouth reconstruction.
Read More: Tips for Eating with New Dentures
If you need full mouth reconstruction, you will almost certainly need to see several dental specialists who will collaborate to ensure you receive the best care. After examining your mouth, they can determine which treatments are needed to restore dental health and your smile and can produce a comprehensive treatment plan.
With full mouth reconstruction, certain treatments must be completed before others. For example, if you have problems like failing or infected teeth or gum disease, these must be treated before your teeth can be restored. It’s important to have a strong and healthy foundation on which to build your new smile.
Full mouth reconstruction can take a while to complete, especially if you need lengthier treatments like orthodontics or dental implants, so it’s vital to be patient and allow plenty of time for your new smile to emerge. The final result should be strong, healthy teeth that function properly, making it a breeze to eat whatever you wish. Your self-esteem is restored as you can smile confidently, knowing your teeth look great.
This page was modified on by Dr. Alexander Bokser, DDS (Dentist) of Precision Dental NYC
Dr. Alexander Bokser is a dentist in Astoria, NY and Bayside, NY. He received his degree from New York University College of Dentistry, licensed by the New York State Board of Regents and the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners.
He is currently teaching dentistry at Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Dr. Bokser has received numerous awards in dentistry and community service. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and North Queens Dental Study Club.
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