Dental Care of Mesa
Full Mouth Restorations
Full mouth restorations are a variety of treatments designed to rebuild and restore all of the teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. While full mouth reconstructions certainly help your mouth and teeth to look nicer, they are primarily intended to improve oral health and function. This is an extensive process, and the specific treatments involved can vary from patient to patient depending on your needs and oral health.
Overview
Patients who require full mouth restorations may have experienced severe tooth loss or damage due to decay, trauma, acid erosion, or tooth grinding. Another issue that can be resolved by a full mouth restoration is jaw, muscle, or head pain that results from occlusion (tooth positioning).
If you have several dental problems or concerns, then you may be a candidate for a full mouth restoration. To determine this in your case, you can visit your local dentist here in Mesa, Arizona for a comprehensive oral examination. Not only will the dentist decide whether a full mouth restoration is the best thing for you, but they will also be able to come up with a treatment plan to correct what issues they find.
First, the dentist will check the condition of your teeth. They will look for signs of tooth decay and cavities, tooth wear, cracking, overly long or short teeth, root canal problems, and tooth movement. As they do so, they can determine which procedures are most appropriate to repair or replace your teeth.
The dentist will also check the gums for potential problems. Unhealthy gums can’t provide a strong foundation for your teeth, so will have to be dealt with during any full mouth restorations. Deep pockets, too much or too little gum tissue, and periodontal disease will all require different treatment plans.
As well as the teeth and gums, jaw health is something to consider when planning full mouth restorations. Jaw pain can be a sign of muscular or joint issues which need to be addressed and problems with the jaw bone and occlusion should also be taken into consideration before other necessary repairs can be made.
Most full mouth restorations involve multiple phases and, depending on the results of the comprehensive examination performed by your dentist, may require your dentist to consult with different specialists on your case.
While each treatment plan differs from patient to patient, common procedures involve:
- Deep cleanings.
- Tooth restoration and replacement, using dental implants, porcelain crowns, dentures, or dental bridges.
- Ceramic inlays and onlays which can resolve an uneven bite or diseased teeth.
- Bone and gum grafting to repair or replace unhealthy tissue with healthy gum or bone.
- Treatment to resolve temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, which causes jaw pain.
The many procedures used in full mouth restorations can take several months to complete, as they fix complex and extensive dental problems. During and after this process, your dentist will give you plenty of advice to help you to care for your oral health.