Some people need more extensive work than one or two dental procedures. Maybe you have postponed having dental work done because of financial or insurance issues. Maybe you’ve suffered from some type of disease or had to take some form of medication that has had a devastating effect on your oral health. Or maybe you’ve experienced an accident or traumatic injury that has left you with severe dental problems. In these circumstances, your dentist may recommend what is usually referred to as a full mouth reconstruction.

Although the term “full mouth reconstruction” may sound intimidating, the procedures involved vary significantly depending on the patient and the amount of work required. A full mouth reconstruction is really simply a plan that is developed by your dentist to return you to good oral health and to improve the appearance of your smile.

Some of the dental issues that can be resolved with a full mouth reconstruction include:

• Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Missing teeth
• An uneven or misaligned bite
• Damaged dental restorations

Your dentist will usually only recommend a full mouth reconstruction if you have several problems that need to be resolved. The first step is to meet with your dentist to discuss your goals. He or she will then perform a full dental exam and create a plan – usually comprised of several different procedures – to resolve your issues. Your plan may consist of restorative, orthodontic, cosmetic procedures, or a combination of some or all of those. If you have cracked or chipped teeth, your dentist may recommend a cosmetic procedure like porcelain veneers, for example. If you have crooked teeth as well, you may require an orthodontic solution such as clear braces. Missing teeth might be replaced by dental bridges or dental implants, for example. Each plan is specially designed to resolve whatever issues may exist with that patient.

It’s important to remember that a full mouth reconstruction often requires several procedures performed over the course of many visits to the dental office. The entire process may take weeks or months to complete. But when the end result is a fully functional set of healthy teeth, most patients would agree that it is time well spent.

If you are suffering from several dental issues, talk to your dentist today about a full mouth reconstruction. No matter what problems you may have, chances are that your dentist can develop a reconstruction plan to resolve those issues and return you to a fully functional set of teeth. Thanks to the full mouth reconstruction process, no patient will ever have to live with the inconvenience, pain, or embarrassment of poor oral health!