Life can take its toll on your teeth, gums and the rest of your mouth. If you’re missing several teeth or have severe tooth decay or gum disease, you may need a full smile makeover to improve your comfort and confidence.
A full mouth construction completely transforms your smile, for the better. If you’ve been hiding your teeth or unable to speak or eat like you once did, reconstructing your mouth may be the way to go. Learn more about what happens during a full mouth reconstruction and how it can benefit you.
What Is a Full Mouth Reconstruction?
A full mouth reconstruction is a group of dental procedures performed simultaneously. The goal of a full mouth reconstruction is to repair and restore missing or severely damaged teeth.
The results from a full mouth reconstruction are permanent. It changes the color, position and shape of your teeth. It also improves the function of your mouth, making it easier to chew food or speak.
Full mouth reconstruction is a fully customized treatment. The procedures your dentist performs will depend on your mouth’s state and your overall goals.
Reasons to Have a Full Mouth Reconstruction
Your specific reasons for choosing a full mouth reconstruction are unique to you, but some of the common reasons people choose the procedure include:
Restore Missing Teeth
Tooth loss can occur for a variety of reasons. You may lose a tooth or several teeth in an accident due to tooth decay or gum disease. Missing teeth can make you feel shy about smiling and can also change the shape and appearance of your face. Not to mention, it becomes difficult to eat the foods you love or speak clearly when you have missing teeth.
During a full mouth reconstruction, your dentist will replace the lost teeth with a permanent dental implant or dental bridge, improving mouth appearance and function.
Correct Severe Gum Disease
Severe gum disease, or periodontitis, causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, increasing the risk of tooth loss. Receding gums can also make you look older and create pockets for bacteria to hide.
If you have gum disease, treating it can be part of your full mouth reconstruction. Once the gum disease is treated, your dentist can replace any teeth you may have lost due to the disease.
Replace Damaged Teeth
Sometimes, you may not be missing teeth, but your teeth may be damaged or decayed beyond repair. Untreated cavities or trauma to the mouth can both cause damage to your teeth. Getting hit in the mouth can crack a tooth while severe cavities can cause decay that can’t be treated by a filling.
Replacing severely damaged teeth can be part of your full mouth reconstruction.
Depending on the extent of the damage, your dentist may replace the tooth or teeth with implants. Porcelain veneers can also be used to restore the appearance of teeth that are damaged but not beyond repair.
What Are the Benefits of a Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Restoring and reconstructing your mouth offers several benefits for oral and emotional health. Thanks to a full mouth reconstruction, you may enjoy:
Improved Quality of Life
You may only realize how important the health of your mouth is once you lose it. Thanks to a full mouth reconstruction, you’ll be able to talk, eat and smile as before you had problems with your teeth or gums.
The result will be an overall improvement in the quality of your life and increased satisfaction with your life.
Greater Confidence
Go ahead, smile. That may be what you tell yourself after a full mouth reconstruction. Plenty of people hide their teeth and gums when they’re missing teeth or have severe gum disease. You may be shy about kissing your loved ones or posing for pictures.
Restoring your teeth and treating any underlying issues, such as cavities and gum disease will give you something to smile about.
Reduced Risk of Infection
The health of your mouth reflects the health of the rest of your body. Gum disease or other infections in your mouth increases your risk of infections elsewhere. For example, there’s a connection between gum disease and heart disease.
Treating gum disease or other oral infections can significantly improve your overall health.
Improved Chewing and Speaking
When you lose one or more teeth, the remaining teeth in your mouth eventually shift. The movement of your remaining teeth can make chewing food difficult. Many people also develop a lisp or other speech impediments.
Replacing lost teeth restores your mouth’s function. You can eat your favorite foods once again and can talk without difficulty.
Improve the Aesthetics of Your Smile
Beyond restoring your teeth, a full mouth reconstruction can improve the appearance of your smile. With a full mouth reconstruction, you can correct the shape and alignment of your teeth, plus their color. If you previously had dingy, yellowed teeth or teeth that were crooked, the combined procedures can give you two rows of nicely aligned, pearly whites.
What Treatments Can Be Part of a Full Mouth Reconstruction?
As a full mouth reconstruction is a customized procedure, the treatments that might be part of yours can vary. At Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, Dr. Roberto Velasco often uses a combination of the following treatments during a full mouth reconstruction:
- All On 4®: If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, All on 4® implants might be just what you need to restore your mouth’s function and appearance. The implants allow you to restore an entire arch or row of teeth but only require four implants.
- Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are an affordable option for full mouth reconstruction for people missing multiple teeth.
- Porcelain Veneers: If your concerns are primarily cosmetic, you may consider porcelain veneers as part of your full mouth reconstruction. Veneers rest on the top of your teeth and can improve the shape, size and color.
- Crowns: A crown is a cover for severely damaged teeth that can restore the look and function of a tooth. Dental crowns are also used on top of implants to restore missing teeth.
Improve Your Oral Health With a Full Mouth Reconstruction
Your mouth is unique, which means your full mouth reconstruction will be unique. If you’re ready to improve the way your mouth looks, feels and functions, contact Uptown Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry to set up a consultation today.