What is full mouth reconstruction?
Full mouth reconstruction is about rebuilding what's missing. Whether it's a missing space, a collapsed bite, or a situation where a patient is not biting in the right position and the face appears sunken in, we're reconstructing what the patient has been missing for a very long time.
Who are candidates for full mouth reconstruction?
Candidates for full mouth reconstruction, or FMR, are generally patients who are in reasonably good health. Your health cannot be severely compromised; otherwise, you may be investing in treatment that will not last. You also need to have decent oral hygiene. If we do all the work and invest all the hours and effort, but you don't take care of it, it's like buying a very expensive, brand-new car and never maintaining it.
If you don't come to your checkups or stick to your dental hygiene appointments, you may not be a good candidate. If you're a smoker or tobacco user, that's also not ideal because restorations can fail. If your diabetes is not under control, your gums and bone can be affected, which can also affect the longevity of your dental work.
Children are usually treated differently depending on their needs, often through an orthodontist or general dentist. Denture wearers may not always be treated with traditional full mouth reconstruction unless implants are being used or we're trying to stabilize the denture. Other than a few exceptions, many people can potentially be candidates for full mouth reconstruction.
What are the different treatment options for full mouth reconstruction?
Treatment options for full mouth reconstruction can include anything that helps us rebuild what's missing, such as:
- Dental crowns
- Dental bridges
- Veneers
- Dental implants
- Partial dentures
- Full dentures
- Temporary solutions, such as a flipper
It all depends on what we're trying to accomplish and what the end goal is. Ultimately, we want your jaw seated in the right position, with comfortable function and no pain.
Is a general dentist qualified to do a full mouth reconstruction?
Yes, a general dentist can be qualified to perform a full mouth reconstruction, but they should have specific training, experience, or both. I do quite a lot of full mouth reconstructions, and many of my colleagues do as well. There are many important steps and protocols that we have to follow to get you where you need to be.
What is the process of going through a full mouth reconstruction?
Full mouth reconstruction is usually a lengthy process. At MA Dental, it starts with a free consultation. You can call us to schedule that. After that, we do scans and images and gather a lot of records. We take you through a comprehensive dental exam, and then the process involves significant planning and design.
Sometimes treatment also requires temporary restorations. Once we stabilize your bite and function and you're happy with the aesthetics, we move to the final restorations. After that, we provide some form of retention to help preserve the work we've done.
How long does full mouth reconstruction take?
The answer varies. Sometimes it can be a two-month journey, and sometimes it can take a year or even a year and a half. It depends on the severity of the situation, how far things have progressed, how much maintenance has been done in the past, how consistent you've been with dental follow-ups, and what your chief concerns are. In very severe and difficult cases, the full mouth reconstruction process can possibly take one to two years.
What anesthesia options are available for full mouth reconstruction?
There are several anesthesia and sedation options that may be available during full mouth reconstruction. We may offer topical anesthetics, local anesthetics, and sometimes nitrous oxide. If we're talking about extensive treatment involving many teeth, additional sedation or anesthesia options may be considered to help keep you comfortable.
In some cases, we can also prescribe medication depending on the patient's needs and health history. We'll let you know which options may be appropriate for you when you come in.
How long does it take to heal from a full mouth reconstruction?
Healing also depends on the severity and complexity of the full mouth reconstruction. If your veneers are breaking down and we simply need to reconstruct them without changing your bite or height, recovery is usually fast. If you require surgery and dental implants, healing takes longer.
If you need straightforward crown and bridge work without changing your vertical dimension, bite, or jaw position, recovery is relatively quick. If you require gum contouring, crown lengthening, implants, major bite changes, or a complete aesthetic makeover, healing and adaptation can take months or even up to a year. It really depends on the complexity of the case.
Are there special care instructions after full mouth reconstruction?
Yes, there are special care instructions that must be followed to help make sure your treatment is completed successfully. If you're in temporary restorations, you have to be very careful about what you eat and usually stay on a soft diet until we tell you otherwise. The same applies after surgery, such as All-on-X or All-on-4 treatment. For the first few months, if you're in temporaries, you need to take it easy.
Following your dentist's instructions is an important part of protecting your results. If you just had surgery, smoking can interfere with healing. If you're a bruxer or grinder, you also need to follow your dentist's guidelines for protecting your restorations. We'll definitely educate you on everything you need to know throughout the process.
How long does full mouth reconstruction last?
This is a very important question, especially because there is a financial investment involved. Will it last for the rest of your life? Honestly, nothing lasts forever. But with regular dental checkups, good home care, following your dentist's recommendations, and keeping your overall health under control, a full mouth reconstruction can last a very long time.
The longevity of your treatment depends on you as the patient and also on the quality of the dental work. From my experience, the quality of the work we offer is excellent, and we've had very few cases that needed to be redone.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (951) 467-4399 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.