When is Full Mouth Reconstruction Necessary?

If you avoid smiling in photos, struggle to chew comfortably, or feel embarrassed about how your smile looks, a full mouth reconstruction may be exactly what you need to get back on track.  

Nearly 10% of adults in the United States struggle with severe tooth decay in more than one tooth. Additionally, millions of adults also struggle with missing teeth and the effects of severe gum disease. Complex cases such as these are when full mouth reconstruction can make a meaningful difference. Rather than treating each tooth as its own isolated problem, full mouth reconstruction looks at your mouth as a whole system and coordinates multiple restorative dental procedures in a specific order so that every step supports the next. 

The result is a better-looking smile, more comfortable chewing, and clearer speech. Read on to learn more about what full mouth reconstruction involves, who needs it, what to expect, and where to find the best restorative dentist in Redwood City to guide your treatment.

How is Full Mouth Reconstruction Different From a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover is a set of elective, cosmetic dental procedures that are chosen by people who are happy with the health of their teeth but want to change how they look. It includes professional teeth whitening, dental veneers, and orthodontic treatments that brighten or straighten a smile. 

A full mouth reconstruction, on the other hand, is medically necessary and usually recommended when your teeth, gums, or bite have been damaged to the point that chewing, speaking, and keeping your jaw properly aligned are affected. This includes cases with: 

• Tooth decay that has spread across multiple teeth
• Significant bone loss from missing teeth or gum disease
• A bite that has shifted over years of teeth grinding

The one place where a smile makeover and full mouth reconstruction overlap is the confidence you have at the end of treatment, when your mouth finally looks and functions the way it should again.

Am I a Good Candidate for Full Mouth Reconstruction?

There are several situations that lead the best dentist in Redwood City to recommend reconstruction: 

• Multiple teeth with deep decay or dental fractures that cannot be saved with a simple dental filling 
• Teeth that have been missing long enough for the surrounding bone to begin shrinking  
• Gum disease that has reached an advanced stage can loosen teeth
• Teeth that are worn flat from years of teeth grinding 
• Old dental work, including dental crowns placed decades ago, dental bridges that are no longer fitting correctly, or dental fillings that have cracked

What Dental Procedures Are Included in a Full Mouth Reconstruction?

What makes reconstruction different from a series of random dental appointments is that every procedure is chosen with a purpose, and each one is sequenced so it sets up the next one for success: 

• Dental implants are often part of the process when teeth are missing. A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a small titanium post that is placed directly into the jawbone. Once it heals and fuses to the bone, a permanent dental crown is attached on top. The dental implant then works to stimulate the jawbone the way a natural tooth root does, which prevents the bone from shrinking over time. 
• Porcelain dental crowns are used to cover and protect teeth that are too damaged for a filling but can still be saved. They restore the shape, strength, and function of the tooth and can be color-matched to blend with the rest of your smile. 
• Dental bridges fill gaps left by missing teeth by anchoring an artificial tooth to the crowns on either side of the space. 
• Periodontal treatment, which includes cleaning below the gumline, removing infected gum tissue, and sometimes bone grafting or soft tissue grafting, is recommended for those with advanced stages of gum disease

Carefully coordinated care is what separates a thoughtfully managed reconstruction from a series of disconnected treatments. It is also why having the best restorative dentist in Redwood City oversee the entire process leads to better results than managing separate referrals across multiple dental offices.

Where to Find the Best Restorative Dentist in Redwood City for Full Mouth Reconstruction

Full mouth reconstruction is not a small decision. At Redwood City Dentistry, we treat gum disease, place dental implants, and restore teeth with permanent crowns, all in one practice, under one coordinated plan. This means we do not hand you off between offices or ask you to piece together a treatment plan on your own. 

At our comprehensive dental clinic, Dr. Tara Firouzi and Dr. Shahrdad Kazerani look at everything, from your gum health, your bone structure, your existing restorations, and your smile goals. This helps us build a personalized sequence of restorative dental treatments that makes sense from the first appointment to the last.