How Long Does Full Mouth Reconstruction Take?

It's fairly common to need a filling or two when you go to the dentist. But what if your teeth are more damaged than that? They can still be fixed, but the process is more involved. Full mouth reconstruction can work wonders for patients whose teeth are in trouble. Here's what you need to know.

What Is Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction is a dental procedure in which multiple teeth are restored - usually four or more. Many times, the gums also need to be repaired, along with some of the surrounding bones.

There are a number of reasons why someone might need full mouth reconstruction. If several of your teeth have eroded or decayed over time due to poor dental care, then reconstruction might be required to fix the problem.

If you have periodontal disease, and your gums have become infected, reconstruction could also be required - or if your teeth have worn down over time due to excessive grinding. If, due to tooth pain, decay, or severe misalignment, you have trouble eating, or even talking, reconstruction can help fix that too.

Full mouth reconstruction might also be an option if your teeth have been broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged in an accident. Finally, if you have chronic jaw pain, or headaches due to malocclusion (misalignment of the jaws), reconstruction might be an option.

What's Involved in Reconstruction?

First, your dentist will need to restore or replace your damaged teeth. Depending on the severity of the damage, they might put in a crown, or a dental bridge consisting of multiple crowns, to bridge a gap of several teeth. Inlays can help restore teeth as well - ceramic pieces shaped like the missing part of one or more teeth, are cemented into place over the damage. Your dentist could also install dental implants.

The next step is gum surgery, to replace infected gums or damaged or missing bones beneath them. One way of doing this is with a graft, taking healthy gum or bone tissue from elsewhere in the mouth and applying it to the infected areas. Finally, they will likely apply some sort of treatment to realign the teeth and get them back into their proper position.

How Long Does Full Mouth Reconstruction Take?

Full mouth reconstruction is an extensive process and can't be performed all at once. Rather, there are multiple surgeries and procedures, spread out over time. It will most likely take at least a month to finish completely. Depending on the severity of your condition and the time it takes you to recover after each procedure, it could take up to a year.

If your reconstruction procedure involves oral surgery, then you'll want to take a few days off of work after it's done and avoid physical activity such as yardwork and housework. You might want to work with your dentist to coordinate the treatment around any work obligations you may have. During the recovery period, you should also only take soft foods and liquids.

Full mouth reconstruction is a very involved process, but it's worth the effort. It not only helps restore your smile, it can relieve chronic pain, make eating easier, and improve the overall health of your mouth by leaps and bounds.

To learn more about how full mouth reconstruction might help you, contact us today at Kanehl Dental. Your smile is in good hands with us.