Nearly 1 in 5 adults over the age of 65 have lost all of their teeth. Periodontal (gum) disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in older adults and seniors.
Untreated gum disease can cause permanent damage to the teeth and gums, destroying both the teeth and the support structures that hold them in place. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in America.
If you or a family member have lots of cavities or infected teeth, it may be necessary to treat or extract them, and then use a full mouth reconstruction to restore your mouth with crowns, false teeth, and other such treatments.
Full mouth reconstruction may be necessary after significant dental trauma. For example, a patient whose teeth have been broken in a car accident may require full mouth reconstruction to repair and replace their teeth, and restore their smile.
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This is a full upper teeth reconstruction performed by restoring and rebuilding all his upper teeth and recontouring his gum. This treatment is needed when teeth are worn down and damaged due to grinding and clenching. The treatment has resulted in a more youthful and healthy appearance of this wonderful patient.
Oral surgeries are often needed in full mouth reconstruction. The first step is often to pull damaged teeth that can’t be saved, so tooth extractions are commonly used. Other surgeries like bone grafts may also be needed to prepare your mouth for dental implants or other treatments. For oral surgery cases we offer sedation options to aide in pain relief.
Even during a full mouth reconstruction, we want to save as many of your natural teeth as possible. It’s often possible to save decayed, infected, or broken teeth with root canal therapy and a dental crown. Dr. Naji practices conservative dentistry in Mission Viejo and focuses on preserving your teeth, so always recommend this over extraction, if possible.
Full dentures can be used if you have lost most of your natural teeth. They require any remaining teeth to be pulled, even if they're healthy, so they're not a good choice if you still have most of your teeth.
Along with other treatments, partial dentures may be a better choice if most of your teeth can be saved. Partial dentures consist of false teeth on a special framework. They snap onto your healthy teeth, filling up gaps in your smile and restoring your oral health.
Dental bridges may be incorporated into a full mouth reconstruction plan. They use two dental crowns, which are placed on either side of a gap in your smile. Then, one or more false teeth are suspended over this gap, “bridging” it and restoring your smile.
Bridges last longer and are more durable than partial dentures. They don’t last quite as long as dental implants, but they're more affordable, so this may be something to keep in mind as Dr. Naji plans your treatment.
Dental implants are commonly used in full mouth reconstructions. In this procedure, a metal implant is surgically placed into your gums and jaw. It heals and bonds with the jaw bone, acting as an artificial root.
Then, Dr. Naji can attach a dental crown to this implant to restore one missing tooth. Two implants can also be used to create an implant-supported dental bridge, or a series of 4-6 implants can be used to support a full row of implant-supported dentures.
Implants look and feel natural, last 30+ years, require minimal care, and will never shift or move. They are more expensive than alternative treatments like dentures and bridges, but they're still the best option for most full mouth reconstructions involving multiple missing teeth.
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