What is a Full Mouth Rehabilitation?
For those struggling with their oral health, full mouth rehabilitation can be life-changing. A smile makeover can help build confidence and improve overall oral health. It can also restore or improve function that has been lost due to ill health. Whatever your reasons for seeking out a smile makeover, your first step is to find a cosmetic dentist with the experience and skills to advise you. As the leading cosmetic dentist in Phoenix, we specialize in guiding our patients through the full mouth rehabilitation process.
We understand that the idea of a full mouth rehabilitation can be daunting, so in this article, we’ll set out what’s involved, what you can expect and the answers to some of the more commonly asked questions about the process.
Let’s start with a definition of what a full mouth rehabilitation actually is, after which we'll dive in deeper.
Full mouth rehabilitation (or full mouth reconstruction) refers to a series of treatments aimed at enhancing the health, function and esthetics of a patient's mouth. The types and length of treatments depend on the patient's needs and go beyond just cosmetic enhancement, covering the full range of dental procedures available.
In practice, full mouth rehabilitation involves the careful evaluation and treatment of teeth, gums, and jaw joints. Procedures can include dental crowns, bridges, dental implants, veneers, teeth whitening, orthodontics, and periodontal treatments.
Full mouth rehabilitation offers a number of benefits, including improved oral health, enhanced esthetics and improvements in jaw and mouth function. A fuller list of the benefits include:
Full mouth rehabilitation may be suitable for a number of patients, including:
A qualified dentist will be able to assess your suitability and advise you on the most appropriate treatments for your concerns or condition.
There are three main stages in a full mouth rehabilitation procedure. After your initial consolation, where you discuss what your goals are, a good dentist will always start with a full assessment of your teeth and jaw. They will look at the overall health of your teeth and gums and how they are positioned in your mouth and will take into consideration any dental treatment you may have already had. They will also look at your lifestyle, as there are many things that may impact how effective a treatment is or how well you will heal. For example, smoking impacts oral health and can delay the healing process.
Your dentist may wish to take scans, X-rays or impressions of your teeth in order to make sure they have all the information they need to build the best treatment plan for you.
Once an initial assessment of your mouth and teeth has been done, your dentist will start to formulate a treatment plan. The plan will look different for every patient and be built around your needs and the result of their initial assessment. It will take into account what you want to achieve as well as any health conditions you have.
Finally, treatment will begin and, depending on what you need, may take place over a number of days, weeks or months. Your dentist will discuss every stage with you and guide you through the process, advising on recovery times if invasive surgery is necessary.
A better question would be, “What common procedures are not involved in full mouth rehabilitation?” The answer to that question is none. Any dental treatment can become part of your full mouth rehabilitation plan if your dentist feels it's appropriate for your particular situation. However, there are some treatments that are more common when putting together a plan. These include:
Many full mouth rehabilitation treatments are minimally invasive; however, some do involve surgical intervention, which brings with it challenges. Even with minimally invasive treatment, there are always things that must be considered. Your dentist will walk you through what risks are associated with your particular treatment plan; however, there are some risks that are more common and apply to many treatments.
Depending on the treatment you will receive, the potential risks include pain, swelling, bruising and infection. These risks can be managed by strictly following your dentist’s advice. As with any dental procedure, should you have concerns, then call your dentist as soon as you can for advice and guidance.
Pain can usually managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Should these not be enough, speak to your Dentist straight away, as they will be able to assess your situation and determine what else can be done to manage your pain.
Managing infection risk can be done by following the advice given to you on aftercare, maintaining good oral health through teeth washing and maintaining a healthy diet.
You will also need to take into account the length of your treatment and any recovery time that may be needed. With the more surgically invasive treatments, you may find you’ll need to take time away from work for recovery.
If you’re considering a full mouth rehabilitation, it's important to choose not only a skilled dentist but one who puts you at ease and answers any questions you might have. When you have your initial consultation, you should ask several questions to help you determine if the dentist is right for you.
If you’re considering a full mouth rehabilitation, speak with us today about your options. Call us at 480-428-3818 to schedule a consultation.
We look forward to meeting you.
Call 480-830-5003 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
