Does it feel like your smile or oral health needs a complete overhaul? Chattanooga full-mouth restoration takes your worn, broken teeth and transforms your bite into a healthy, functional, attractive accessory. At McOmie Family Dentistry, we take full mouth reconstruction exceptionally seriously, as it’s a life-changing process for our patients (especially those who have missing teeth.) You’ll play an integral role in the treatment process, by co-planning your care from day one.
The Full Mouth Restoration Process
The very first stage of your full mouth reconstruction experience is meeting with you one-on-one to discuss your oral health goals. What do you want to achieve? What timeline or budget do you need to work with? Are there natural teeth we can preserve with dental crowns or root canal therapy? Do you qualify to have a dental implant placed?
Our Chattanooga dentist will begin to create a care plan that incorporates your priorities and goals as we talk through your vision. If different treatment options are appropriate, we’ll review each one. Carefully, we’ll map out a tooth-by-tooth approach that encompasses your entire full mouth reconstruction process.
Just like a home makeover, full mouth reconstruction is different for everyone. But ultimately, the end result is something that will better your quality of life, health, and self-confidence.
Treatment Options for Full Mouth Restoration
Depending on what your smile has been through and which teeth can be preserved, we might recommend a combination of the following types of treatments:
Dental Crowns
Porcelain dental crowns protect teeth that are severely worn, fractured, decayed, or discolored. They are among the most common types of restorative and cosmetic treatments we use in our full mouth reconstruction cases. Crowns are extremely versatile because we can use them to reinforce teeth but also replace missing ones when they’re paired with dental implants.
Dental Bridges
A traditional option for replacing single missing teeth is to install a fixed dental bridge. Dental bridges can either be attached to a pair of healthy teeth or a set of implants, with one tooth/implant on either end of the bridge. The artificial crown in the middle of the bridge is suspended over your gums, filling in the space created by your missing tooth.
Each of our Chattanooga bridges is made from durable ceramics that are matched to blend in with your adjacent tooth enamel. That way, when you smile, everything looks natural.
Since the ends of bridges also serve as protective crowns, they play a dual purpose when the supporting teeth can benefit from extra reinforcement. But if those neighboring teeth are virgin teeth, we might recommend an individual dental implant instead.
Dental Implants
The premier solution for missing teeth is to permanently replace them with modern dental implants. Whether you’re planning to replace individual teeth at various parts of your mouth or need to restore all of them at once, dental implants are extremely versatile.
Each of your dental implants essentially acts as a functional tooth root. We can use them to permanently anchor porcelain dental crowns, multi-tooth dental bridges, and even whole mouth restorations like “All-on-4” (where a hybrid appliance is anchored onto four dental implants.)
Implants are made to last for decades on end. And if you care for them properly, most dental implants are expected to last for the rest of your life. Plus, they look and feel like natural teeth, so you can smile, talk, and eat with confidence all day, every day.
Of all full mouth reconstruction options, dental implants provide the best return on investment. Plus, since they are so strong, we don’t need to use as many implants as there are missing teeth.
Dentures or Partial Dentures
To economically and quickly replace all of your missing teeth at one time, dentures or partials are an excellent choice. Any damaged teeth will be removed beforehand, and then our dentist will take impressions to custom fit each “plate.”
Full dentures replace all of the teeth in your upper or lower arch at one time. They are used when there are no longer any teeth in that part of your mouth. Whereas partial dentures snap into place around your remaining teeth, preventing the need for any additional oral surgery. Some of our clients request dentures during their full mouth reconstructions, whereas others wear them temporarily as they plan for future dental implants.
Root Canal Therapy
Endodontic treatment (root canal therapy) is the last option for restoring teeth that have damaged or infected nerves. Symptoms can include an abscess, discolored teeth, pain, or deep cavities. Rather than remove your tooth, we take out the abscessed dental nerve to address the cause of your infected tooth. At that point, the empty chamber inside your tooth is medicated, sealed off, and the tooth is covered with a protective dental crown.
Does root canal therapy hurt? Surprisingly, it’s no more uncomfortable than having any other type of routine dental treatment (like a filling or crown.) However, abscessed teeth can be challenging to numb, so our Chattanooga dentist may need to place you on antibiotics leading up to the endodontic procedure. Since full mouth rehabilitation involves tooth preservation, root canals play an integral role in your smile makeover experience.
Dental Extractions
If your existing teeth are non-restorable, it may be necessary to remove each damaged or infected tooth to create a healthier overall environment. At that point, we can replace individual teeth with bridges or dental implants to restore function and aesthetics. By removing those teeth, we halt the spread of decay or unnecessary additional treatments.
A Tooth Restoration Option for Everyone in Chattanooga
McOmie Family Dentistry offers flexible payment options (including low and 0% interest financing) in addition to accepting dental insurance. Our care coordinators will help you map out your full mouth reconstruction plan to find solutions that fit your budget. Thanks to low monthly payments, you don’t have to wait to finally enjoy the healthier smile you deserve.
Contact our dentist in Chattanooga today to reserve a full mouth reconstruction consultation. We’ll be happy to answer any questions that you have.
