As the song from the musical "Annie"goes, "you're not fully dressed without a smile." But for manypeople, they're not comfortable smiling.
That's because their teeth aren't as perfectas they'd like. Missing teeth, gum damage, and faulty bites are just a fewproblems that can cause an imperfect smile.
And those problems can cause pain, suffering,and more costly problems down the road if they're not addressed immediately.That's why more patients are looking into full mouth rehabilitation.
It's full mouth reconstruction that addressesall your issues at once. And you're left with a healthy, beautiful smile.
If you think you're a candidate for teethreconstruction, keep reading. We're sharing everything you need to know aboutdental reconstruction.
What Full MouthRehabilitation Is
When your dentist informs you that you're agood candidate for full mouth reconstruction, it's usually because you needseveral procedures in order to get your gums and teeth back in working order.
Often problems such as damaged teeth,improperly seated jaw joints, missing teeth, faulty bites, jawbone and gumdamage, worn-out dental work, and even diseases of the mouth all need to beaddressed.
While each of these procedures can beperformed independently, when several of them exist at once, full mouthrehabilitation is often advised.
Procedures That May BeInvolved in Dental Reconstruction
The first step your dentist will take will beto perform a full exam on your mouth. He or she will inspect the currentcondition of your teeth. Each plan differs depending on your goals and budget.
However, there are several common proceduresinvolved in teeth reconstruction. Let's take a look at them now.
Bruxism Treatments
Bruxism treatments are advised to helppatients who
struggle with teeth grinding
andtheir associated symptoms.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry procedures are very common withteeth restoration efforts. Your dentist may advise you to get porcelainveneers, your teeth whitened, dental bonding, and/or gum re-contouring. Thiswill ensure your teeth and gums are healthy and you end up with a beautifulsmile.
Implants
If you have missing teeth, your dentist willadvise you to
get implants
. They'll replicate your tooth from root to crownand no one will know the implants aren't real teeth.
NeuromuscularDentistry/TMD Treatments
Neuromuscular dentistry/TMD treatment helpsaddress problems involving TMJ or temporomandibular joints and your bite.
Not addressing an off-balance bite
can lead to pain and problems with your teeth in the future.
Oral Surgeries
You may require oral surgery as part of yourdental reconstruction. Your surgery may include root canal therapy, soft andhard tissue grafting, and tooth extractions.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics may also be advised for patientswith misaligned teeth. That may include strategies such as Invisalign® ortraditional metal braces, expanders, spacers, and retainers.
Periodontal Treatments
And periodontal treatments may be part of yourteeth restoration efforts. Periodontal surgery, root planing, and scaling arenot uncommon procedures.
What Makes a Good Candidatefor Teeth Reconstruction
If you're someone who has suffered throughmultiple oral health problems, whose currently oral health problems areaffecting most or all of your teeth and its supporting tissues, you're a goodcandidate for full mouth rehabilitation.
Younger patients have less risk to worry aboutduring their dental procedures. However, if you are older or suffer from healthissues, your dentist can also create a treatment plan that involves fewerinvasive procedures.
Share Your Full HealthHistory With Your Dentist
Be sure to provide your dentist with acomplete and thorough health history before you embark on any surgeries. Andmake sure to provide your dentist with a full list of any medications you'retaking, including any vitamins and minerals you take.
Be advised that patients who aren't willing orcannot maintain good oral health or those who are taking illegal drugs may notexperience lasting, positive results from their dental treatments. Don't forgetthat habits like smoking and/or heavy drinking can also compromise your oralhealth and lessen the effects of your dental reconstruction.
The Cost of a Full MouthReconstruction
There are a variety of factors that willaffect the total cost of your dental reconstruction. Different dentists pricetheir services differently.
If you choose a dentist with more experience,they will most likely charge you more. However, they're also more likely toprovide you with a higher level of quality based on their extensive experience.
How much planning is required to determineyour course of treatments will also affect the price of a full teethreconstruction. The more planning required, the more expensive it will be.
The current condition of your teeth is also ahuge factor in determining the price. If your teeth are in reasonably goodcondition, less work is required. If, however, your gums and teeth are bothquite damaged, more extensive work is needed, which will drive up the costs.
The type of technology used and the types ofrestorations you require will also affect the final price of thereconstruction. Speak to your dentist and your insurance company to learn howyou can get the work done without it breaking your budget.
Why Teeth Reconstruction isWorth the Price
Imagine going through life never wanting tosmile. Imagine going through life with your mouth in pain and it getting worse,not better.
Waiting on these procedures isn't really anoption. It just adds to your discomfort and can end up costing you more asthings shift, change, and get worse while you wait.
Once your original teeth are gone, you can'tget them back. And bad oral health is often an indicator that something seriousis going on with the rest of your body. There are too many links to
oral health and serious health conditions
to ignore these problems.
Find a Dentist You Like andTrust
If you're thinking of opting for a full mouthrehabilitation, it's vital you work with a dentist you like and trust. Askfriends and family to refer a dentist to you.
And check out the dentist before you schedulean appointment. Look online to find out more about them and their practice.
Look for online testimonials to see whatothers think about the dentist. To take a
lookat our testimonials
, click here.
