For many people, a full-mouth restoration (also called a full-mouth reconstruction) is nearly miraculous. Full-mouth restorations are complex procedures that restore a patient’s full chewing capacity, while providing the patient with a complete set of beautiful, functional teeth. A full-mouth restoration makes it possible for someone with a mouth that is painful or disfigured with diseased, missing or damaged teeth—whether from trauma or neglect—to be made healthy and whole again.
Unfortunately, not everyone can qualify for a full mouth restoration. Your dentist may require you to take some tests to establish the viability of the procedure. In addition, he or she will talk to you about your oral condition, your general health condition, and the lifestyle that you lead, in order to establish whether you can obtain a full-mouth restoration.
In some cases, some changes will be asked of you, for example, to stop taking a certain medication or to explore with your doctor the possibility of taking a different one, modify, stop, or start an exercise program, or to make a change in diet.
By far, the most common factor that may disqualify a patient is smoking. Smoking before, during, and after the procedure greatly increases the chances of an infection that may affect the procedure negatively. A dentist will typically ask a patient to stop smoking for a specific period of time, which will depend on how much the patient smokes, before the procedure takes place.
Any oral problems or issues will have to be dealt with before a full-mouth reconstruction takes place. These include bleeding gums, occlusions (tooth positions), extractions, infections, etc. Each problem will have to be assessed and a solution will be chosen with the goal of a future full-mouth reconstruction.
Jawbone structure, volume, and strength are important factors a dentist will consider that may disqualify a patient or delay the procedure. Full-mouth reconstructions typically involve dental implants, which in turn require a stable and strong jawbone. In some cases, part of the jawbone has been lost due to disease or trauma and there isn’t enough support for the dental implant. Except for the most severe cases, this problem can be solved by a procedure called a bone graft, which involves obtaining bone from another part of the body (usually the chin) and inserting in the jawbone.
Finally, some health conditions can prevent a person from obtaining a full-mouth reconstruction, especially if they are severe or chronic, for example some types of cancer, clotting or blood problems, immune system conditions, and others. But for many people, whose health will support it, full-mouth restorations can offer them a new lease on life by giving them a healthy, attractive smile and the ability to eat anything they want without pain or discomfort.
Affordability should not be a consideration in dental care. However, the reality is that for many people in the US and Canada, the cost of full-mouth restoration can be so high that they are unable to afford the dental care they need. Fortunately, Costa Rica Dental Guide has been able to help many of these people by providing quality, affordable care and the specialists needed to perform all of the procedures required in full-mouth restorations.