Sometimes, a catastrophic mouth injury or a lifetime of dental problems causes a mouthful of issues that can’t be resolved by individual tooth repairs. In these cases, a patient may need a more serious dental intervention – a full mouth restoration. This procedure is also called a full mouth reconstruction. A full mouth restoration is defined as the process of rebuilding or replacing all of the teeth in a patient’s mouth. This process uses a variety of techniques from restorative and cosmetic dentistry to achieve this goal.
Reasons To Need A Full Mouth Restoration
A full mouth reconstruction is a good solution for a patient who is missing most of their teeth, or has serious problems with multiple teeth. This situation can be brought on by several conditions including:
- Congenital conditions like Ectodermal Dysplasia, Ameliogenesis, or Dentinogenisis Imperfecta
- Oral cancer
- Tooth decay in multiple teeth
- Severe, long-term bruxism (teeth grinding) that has worn down teeth
- Extensive mouth injuries causing broken teeth
Full Mouth Restoration Process
Like many dental procedures, a full mouth restoration starts with an assessment by your dentist. During this consultation, your dentist will perform an examination, take note of any issues with your teeth, then come up with a treatment plan that matches solutions to the problems with your teeth.
The full mouth restoration procedure varies depending on the patient’s situation. Most treatment plans begin with resolving any infections and removing unhealthy tissue. Damaged or diseased gum tissue will be removed via scaling, and in some cases a bone or soft tissue graft might be necessary to get the gums and jaw healthy enough to support any prosthetics needed in the treatment.
If a tooth is able to be salvaged, your dentist might include treatments to realign teeth, repair cracked teeth, or use a crown. If a tooth is missing or is beyond saving, your dentist might recommend a dental implant, an implant-supported bridge, or full dentures to replace these teeth with a prosthetic.
After the necessary surgical interventions are done, your dentist will finish up with the aesthetics of the restoration. The finishing touches of teeth whitening and color-matching your prosthetics to any remaining natural teeth will leave you feeling confident in your new smile.
How Long Does A Full Mouth Restoration Take?
Most full-mouth restoration procedures are too complex to complete in one visit. The duration of the procedures depend entirely on the health of your mouth at the start of the process. Multiple, complex issues might require separate appointments for each part of the process. And if gums, bone, and soft tissue are damaged or decayed, you might need lengthy healing times in between procedures to make sure your mouth is healthy enough to proceed to the next step.
In most cases, you will need multiple appointments to complete a full mouth restoration. This will include the initial assessment, the creation of a treatment plan, preparation and cleaning for procedures, oral surgery, and follow-up visits to make sure your healing is proceeding as planned. Your dentist should be able to give you a good estimate of treatment duration when you complete a treatment plan.
How Much Does A Full Mouth Restoration Cost?
The price of a full mouth restoration varies for each patient. Costs vary depending on how much damage is present in the mouth at the outset, the treatment options selected by your dentist, and how much your insurance will reimburse the cost of the procedure. A simple, straightforward full mouth restoration might cost as little as $15,000 and more severe cases could cost upwards of $100,000 to fully resolve. Your dentist can give you a more accurate price breakdown when they create your treatment plan.
Conclusion
At the end of a full mouth restoration procedure, a patient should have a full set of artificial teeth that simulate the function and appearance of natural teeth. This can be a life-changing dental procedure. With a restored mouth, patients can eat normally, speak without impediment, and be without pain caused by oral health problems. There’s also aesthetic benefits, and a confidence boost from not being embarrassed by the appearance of your teeth.
Getting a full mouth restoration is a big commitment, but it’s a worthy investment in your dental health. If you’re interested in getting this procedure and would like a professional consultation, please contact us today!