Full Mouth Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Restoration Chicago IL

What is full mouth reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction is a broad term used to describe the process of rehabilitating a patient’s entire set of teeth—while carefully considering their smile, bite, facial support, and jaw joints. It is also known as full mouth rehabilitation or full mouth restoration. It is carried out by a prosthodontist, who has three years of training beyond dental school specifically in this type of treatment. The key is that the entire system of the mouth and oral structures is considered, taking into account chewing, speech, smiling, joint health, and longevity of the result.

Most commonly, patients undergoing full mouth reconstruction have worn down many or all of their teeth due to grinding (technical term: “bruxing”), acid reflux (GERD), an acidic diet, or often a combination of these. These same patients may have, in the past, had cracked or broken teeth treated with crowns. While those crowns did serve to save those individual teeth, they were performed with a single-tooth approach. That is, they were made to fit the existing space and bite. Repeated multiple times, this can actually lead to a more “closed” bite over time—with what appears to be a shrinking of the face from nose to chin. This artificial aging of the patient has significant oral health consequences beyond the esthetic facial support changes.

Full mouth reconstruction can be completed on natural teeth, implants, or often with a combination. Patients requiring reconstruction have often lost one or more teeth in the past, and implants can be added to fill these spaces—with the new crowns and implant crowns all fabricated to work in harmony and match perfectly.

View Before and After Full Mouth Reconstruction Photos

What are the benefits of full mouth reconstruction?

The benefits vary based on each individual patient’s situation, but often include:

• Improved chewing and a more comfortable bite
• Protection of teeth from further cracking, wear, and damage
• A beautiful smile—which can be completely personalized (and can look as natural or as Hollywood-perfect as the patient would like)
• Restoration of lip support and facial support
• Speech improvement
• Enhanced gum health
• Improved social confidence—no more hiding one’s smile or avoiding eating out

Are you ready to receive your Smile Makeover?

What is the difference between full mouth reconstruction and full mouth rehabilitation?

These are essentially equivalent terms. Rehabilitation is probably a more accurate term, as it better captures the fact that it is a dynamic process involving a living system. Reconstruction is a term more commonly used in conversation and in some dental schools.

What conditions can be corrected with a full mouth reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction is a combination of restorative, implant, and cosmetic dentistry techniques that we use to correct complex oral issues. Some of the problems that can be solved by full mouth reconstruction include:

• severely worn teeth
• missing teeth
• broken, cracked, or fractured teeth
• acid-erosion
• tooth grinding
• jaw, muscle, and/or headache pain due to bite problems

What types of dental procedures and services are used for full mouth reconstruction?

Since every patient and case is unique, there is no set formula for required dental procedures for full mouth reconstruction. During your consultation, Dr. Jacobs will thoroughly examine your oral health and needs to determine the best combination of procedures for you. These treatments may include:

• Permanent restorations, including crowns, veneers, inlays/onlays, dental bridges
• Temporary restorations (also called provisional restorations)
• Dental implants
• Bone or soft tissue grafting
• Orthodontics (braces, Invisalign)
• Laser gum shaping
• Crown lengthening
• Nonsurgical periodontal treatment (Perio 360)

When indicated, our doctors partner with other specialists, such as periodontists (specializing in gums), oral surgeons, orthodontists, and endodontists (specializing in root canals), to guarantee you receive the best, most comprehensive care possible.

Before & After Full Mouth Reconstruction

 

 

Full Mouth Reconstruction: What Does the Process Looks Like?

The process begins with a prosthodontic consultation with Dr. Jacobs. At that initial visit, you will have a chance to share your history and concerns, as well as have a completely comfortable exam with the doctor. You will also have a chance to see our office, meet our team, and find out if Dental Professionals is a good fit for your needs.

If you are found to be a candidate for full mouth reconstruction and want to move ahead, a visit is scheduled for prosthetic records. At that visit, an extremely detailed exam, photographs, impressions, imaging, and bite records will be carried out—essentially, a comfortable visit to collect all the data needed to compose a thoughtful plan or plans.

Soon after the prosthetic records visit, you will sit down with the doctor in a treatment conference. This is held in a private conference room, with plenty of time to ask all of your questions. Dr. Jacobs will review the different approaches possible for your treatment, using the photos, scans, and models of your teeth to better show you what’s possible. You will be given copies of the plans, including specific fees and estimated treatment timelines. Any necessary referrals will be discussed as well. Spouses or others who may help you make a decision are welcome at this meeting. We recognize that this is a major life decision, so this is purposely a lower pressure visit and we encourage our patients to take as much time to consider their options before going ahead.

How long does full mouth reconstruction take?

The timeline for full mouth reconstruction varies significantly from case to case. In all cases, we will be able to give you an estimate of time before treatment begins.

Fastest: If implants or surgical steps are not required, full mouth reconstruction can be completed very efficiently. This may mean as few as 3-4 visits over the course of 4-8 weeks. For out-of-town patients, we work to reduce the number of visits and make the process as efficient as possible.

Longer Duration: If surgery, grafting, or other specialized care is required in conjunction with full mouth reconstruction, the course of treatment can range from two months to a year or more. This doesn’t necessarily mean lots of additional visits, but there is healing time required for surgery and treatment time required for the movement of teeth (ex. Invisalign).

How much does full mouth reconstruction cost?

We tailor full mouth reconstruction according to the particular needs of each case, so the cost depends on your diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as your dental insurance coverage. Dental insurance often covers some costs associated with full mouth reconstruction. We offer a variety of financial options to our patients to ensure that they get the care they need.