Full Mouth Reconstruction - Options and Costs

What is Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction, also called full mouth rehabilitation, is an extensive set of dental procedures intended to replace or rebuild many or all of a person’s teeth. These procedures are intended to provide significant functional and aesthetic improvements.

Who Needs Full Mouth Reconstruction? 

Extensive reconstruction may be recommended due to the any of the following:^{1, 2, 3, 4}

• Multiple teeth damaged or lost due to trauma (injury)
• Extensive decay or gum disease (which can cause tooth loss)
• Severe tooth wear caused by grinding or acid erosion (due to diet or acid reflux)
• Congenital conditions that cause teeth to be poorly developed

All of these issues can affect a person’s bite, appearance, and ability to use their teeth. Full mouth reconstruction intends to provide improvements in all of these areas.

How The Process Works

Here’s how the full mouth rehabilitation process works: 

1. Consultation

To determine whether you’re a candidate for full mouth reconstruction, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

At your appointment, you and your dentist will discuss your needs and concerns. Together, you’ll establish your treatment goals.

Your dentist will review your records and conduct a thorough examination of your mouth. They’ll take into account:

• Your dental and medical history
• Any medications, conditions, or habits that could affect the treatment process
• The appearance and physical condition of your teeth and gums
• Any issues you have with bite alignment (malocclusion)

2. Imaging and Modeling

Your dentist will also take records of your teeth. These may include:

• X-rays
• Photographs of your teeth and gums
• Dental impressions, which allow your dentist to create a replica of your teeth³

This will allow them to get a full picture of your mouth before reconstruction. It will also allow them to develop a digital 3D mockup of how your mouth will likely look after treatment.

You’ll be able to evaluate the mockup, and your dentist can make adjustments based on your feedback. Then, you and your dentist will arrive at a final model for how your teeth should look and feel.

3. Creating the Right Plan

Once you’ve determined your goals and intended results, your dentist will make a treatment plan to get you there.

Full mouth reconstruction can include multiple kinds of procedures, including:

• A thorough cleaning of your teeth and gums
• Periodontal (gum) treatment 
• Root canal therapy
• Removal of teeth that are in poor condition
• Orthodontic treatment
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) or orthognathic surgery to correct jaw problems
• Placement of dental implants
• Fillings, crowns, or veneers

Your dentist will determine which of these treatments you need and the best way to sequence them.

4. Treatment

Treatment may take place in multiple stages. Your dentist may provide each of the treatments you need over the course of several appointments.

These appointments may be spread out over several weeks or months. Some treatments, such as implant placement, may require time to heal before moving on to the next procedure.

At the end of treatment, you and your dentist will compare your before images to your new restoration. You’ll make sure that you’ve achieved the intended results and adequately addressed your needs.

You may have follow-up appointments to check on your restorations and assess your recovery.

Recovery and Aftercare 

Following treatment, your dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions. They’ll probably advise you to:

• Avoid certain activities for a while, such as heavy lifting or contact sports
• Take a break from especially hard or tough foods during recovery
• Maintain good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing

Your dentist may provide you with medical-grade mouthwash to ensure a clean healing environment for your new restorations.

It’s also possible that your dentist will give you a night guard.⁴ This can help protect your teeth and new restorations from wear and reinforce the results of orthodontic treatment.

No two full mouth reconstructions are the same. The specific treatments you receive, along with your age and overall health, will factor into how long you’ll need to recover.

Dental implants, for example, may require several months to fully recover. Ask your dentist about any recovery concerns you may have.

Full Mouth Reconstruction vs. Smile Makeovers 

The key difference between full mouth reconstruction and smile makeovers is that smile makeovers are elective and primarily cosmetic.

Smile makeovers may involve teeth whitening, veneers, and other aesthetic treatments.

Full mouth reconstruction takes aesthetics into account, but it also addresses serious functional issues. It’s considered medically necessary rather than purely elective.

Like full mouth reconstruction, a smile makeover can include multiple procedures. These procedures may overlap with what a full mouth reconstruction includes (dental implants, for example).

How Much Does Full Mouth Reconstruction Cost?

Because full mouth reconstruction consists of multiple procedures, the cost can vary widely depending on your specific needs.

A modest treatment plan may cost $15,000, while a more comprehensive treatment plan can cost as much as $80,000.⁷

Some procedures cost much more than others. Root canal therapy, for example, typically costs a thousand dollars per tooth. Dental implants and corrective jaw surgery can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance may partially or fully cover full mouth reconstruction depending on the specific treatments included.

Treatments that are considered medically necessary, such as root canals or periodontal treatment, are more likely to be covered. Your insurance might not cover cosmetic procedures like tooth whitening.

Summary

Full mouth reconstruction is an extensive set of dental procedures meant to restore all of a person’s teeth. Dental providers administer these treatments with both functional and aesthetic considerations in mind.

Talk to your dentist about your specific restoration needs. Ask about how these different treatments will improve your smile, oral health, and quality of life.