Full mouth reconstruction is a huge step — not only for your teeth, but for confidence, health, and overall lifestyle. It is more than crowns and implants; it’s an entire reset for your smile. But when you’re considering something this major, getting the right answers is critical. What are your options? What is the timeline? How long will it last? Far too often, people jump in without knowing what they’re getting themselves into — and become overwhelmed.
This guide will answer the most critical questions to ask your dentist before starting your full mouth reconstruction.
What is a Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Full mouth reconstruction is an extensive treatment procedure that involves restoring or replacing all the teeth in both jaws. It involves several procedures to replace extensive loss or decay and enhance functioning, as well as aesthetics.
The aim is to restore oral health, chewing function, bite alignment, and smile aesthetics. Full mouth reconstruction can involve some or all of these treatments: dental implants, crowns, veneers, or even gum therapy. [1]
As a handy guide to help you start your full-mouth treatment, here is a summary of the mouth and relevant facial structures and what you need to look out for:
| Normal | Abnormal | |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth | Color – natural white to slightly yellowish Size and shape – relatively even and proportional Alignment and bite – complete, straight, with the front upper teeth slightly overlapped with the lower teeth when biting | Color – brown to blue discolorations, black, purple, porous and yellower Size and shape – unusually large or small, with holes or cavity Alignment and bite – crooked or gapped, spaced due to tooth loss, with some teeth excessively sticking out or pushed back from the alignment |
| Gums | Pink and firm, with subtle stipplings | Red or darker in shade, pale, receded, inflamed, painful to the touch, bleeding |
| Lips | Reddish to pinkish brown, consistent color throughout the inner border | Inconsistent color, dry and patchy, swollen, dry, presence of sores on the corner |
| Cheeks | Symmetrical on both sides | Swollen or sunken |
| Jaws | Symmetrical, no pain during mouth opening and closing | Pain and clicking sound during mouth opening and closing |
If you have any areas that show signs of abnormalities, it is good to make a note so you can discuss them with me.
- What Procedures Are Involved in Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Full mouth reconstruction involves a series of restorative and cosmetic services customized to fit each patient’s needs. These treatments may include implants to replace missing teeth, crowns to repair damaged teeth, bridges to replace missing teeth, and veneers to repair cosmetic damage such as chips or stains. Root canals can be performed to save infected teeth, and dentures replace missing teeth.
- What Do I Need to Know About Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
Full mouth implants are a state-of-the-art method for restoring all or most of your teeth. Placed surgically into your jawbone, they become attached to the bone through osseointegration. This is a long-term and stable alternative compared to removable dentures.
Implants are created out of titanium, a metal that naturally fuses with bone and forms a stable base for crowns, bridges, or dentures.
- Who Is a Good Candidate for Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Good candidates for full mouth reconstruction include individuals with extensive damage to their dentition that cannot be addressed with single procedures such as fillings or crowns. Ideal candidates typically have:
- Numerous missing or badly damaged teeth
- Functional difficulties such as chewing, speaking, or an improperly aligned bite
- Gum diseases that can be addressed before reconstruction
- Healthy jawbone to house implants (or will need to have bone grafting as required)
- Realistic expectations regarding process and recovery time
- What are the Treatment Options for Full Mouth Restoration?
The treatments will be based on the needs of the patient and the state of their jawbone, gums, and teeth. The most frequent treatments are:
- Dental Implants: Titanium posts are surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace missing teeth and create a permanent solution that appears and performs like natural teeth. [2]
- Crowns: Used to cover the decayed or weakened teeth, crowns rejuvenate their form, size, and strength as well as enhance looks.
- Veneers: Thin, customized shells bonded to the front of teeth to improve cosmetic concerns such as staining, chips, or misaligned teeth.
- Dentures: Removable or fixed prosthetic devices to replace missing teeth, sold as a partial or full set.
- Root Canals: These are carried out on infected or damaged teeth to save them from extraction.
- Orthodontic Treatment: Teeth are straightened and bite problems are corrected with braces or clear aligners.
- Treatment for Gum Disease: Scaling and root planing or gum grafting procedures can sometimes be required to return the gums to health before other procedures can be undertaken.
- What Happens During Dental Implant Treatment?
Dental implant treatment is a multi-step process that may take several months to accomplish, but it provides you with a long-lasting solution for missing teeth. [3] Here’s what you can expect:
- Evaluation and Planning: Your dentist examines your bone, gums, and teeth with scans or an X-ray. You will learn whether you have sufficient bone to hold implants or whether you require a bone graft initially.
- Implant Surgery: Small titanium posts are inserted into the jawbone. This is performed under local anesthesia, so it is painless.
- Healing Process: Your jawbone will build around the implants during the next few months in a process referred to as “osseointegration.” This stabilizes and strengthens the implant.
- Abutment Placement: A small connector (abutment) is then attached to each implant once healed.
- New Teeth Fitted: Top crowns, bridges, or dentures are fitted over them to complement your smile and bite.
While it does take some time, the outcome is stable, natural-appearing teeth that feel like your own.
- What Materials Are Used for Full Mouth Reconstruction?
The materials for full mouth reconstruction are selected for durability, strength, and natural aesthetics. The more frequent options include crowns and veneers with porcelain or ceramic, durable crowns or bridges with zirconia, composite resin for bonding or fillings, titanium for implants because it is strong enough to allow bone integration, and acrylic for dentures that are light in weight. [4]
Your dentist will decide on the most suitable materials depending on your needs and financial constraints.
- How Long Does Full Mouth Reconstruction Take?
The length of full mouth reconstruction is based on how complicated the case is and what procedures will be required. The process as a whole usually takes several months to a year.
- Simple cases will take a few weeks to several months.
- Healing time: Dental implants take 3 to 6 months to become integrated with the bone.
- Several appointments: Crowns, veneers, or bridges can take several appointments.
- Orthodontics: In cases involving braces, treatment may take several months to a year.
- Is Full Mouth Reconstruction Painful?
It may sound scary, but full mouth reconstruction is not as painful as people imagine. Dentists apply local anesthetics during procedures, so you won’t feel pain when it is happening. In some cases, you will have a little pain or swelling for a day or two. This is usual and can be eased by painkillers provided by your dentist. If you are anxious, there are also options for sedation. The majority of patients comment that the pain is mild and short-lived.
- How Much Does a Full Mouth Reconstruction Cost?
The cost can vary a lot depending on what treatments you need. A simple case with a few crowns or a few bridges can take only a few thousand pounds. However, when you require implants, dentures, gum surgery, or jaw surgery, it may run as high as £20,000 or more. Full mouth reconstructions average out at £10,000 to £30,000 in the UK.
Most dentists have payment plans or finance options available to help you spread the cost. It’s always better to have a complete check-up and quotation so you can see exactly how much your treatment will be.
- What Can I Expect Following Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Expect some swelling, soreness, and pain after full mouth reconstruction, particularly if surgery or implants have been performed. This can usually be managed with pain medication provided by your dentist. A soft food diet may need to be followed for a few weeks.
There will be some adjustments as you get used to your new teeth, but as a whole, the outcome will significantly enhance your functionality, comfort, as well as looks.
- How Long Does It Take to Recover from Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Healing time varies with the treatments you’ve undergone. If you have fillings, crowns, or veneers as part of your plan, you may feel better within a few days. However, if you’ve undergone implants, bone grafts, or gum surgery, healing may take weeks or months.
For implants, there is a required waiting time for bone to firmly attach itself to the implant, taking 3 to 6 months. Many people can get back to work and day-to-day activities in no time, but complete healing occurs over a gradual process.
References
- Negin Yaghoobi, et al. “Functional and Aesthetical Full‐Mouth Rehabilitation of a Patient with Severely Worn Dentition and Deep Bite Using Minimally Invasive Approach in Current Vertical Dimension: A 3‐Year Follow‐Up.” Clinical Case Reports, vol. 11, no. 12, 27 Nov. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10682251/, https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.8257. Accessed 9 May 2024.
- Auerbacher, Marc, et al. “Treatment Plan and Challenges in Full‐Mouth Rehabilitation of a Quadriplegic Patient: A Clinical Report.” Journal of Prosthodontics, vol. 31, no. 3, 28 Dec. 2021, pp. 183–189, https://doi.org/10.1111/jopr.13461.
- Debbarma, Lisa. “Restoring Oral Health: Implant-Supported Full-Mouth Rehabilitation for an Edentulous Patient.” Cureus, 12 Aug. 2024, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.66732. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
- Saini, Monika. “Implant Biomaterials: A Comprehensive Review.” World Journal of Clinical Cases, vol. 3, no. 1, 2015, p. 52, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4295219/, https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v3.i1.52.
