Full-Mouth Rehabilitation

Who Needs Full-Mouth Rehabilitation

Several situations call for comprehensive reconstruction rather than isolated treatments:

Severe Tooth Wear

Years of grinding and clenching can wear teeth down to stubs, eliminating the enamel that protects them and changing your bite relationship. This wear often creates jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty chewing. Rehabilitation rebuilds tooth height and establishes a stable, functional bite.

Extensive Decay Across Multiple Teeth

When cavities affect most of your teeth, treating them individually over many appointments prolongs the problem and leaves you with a patchwork of fillings that might not work well together. A comprehensive approach addresses all the decay at once and creates a cohesive treatment plan that considers how each restoration interacts with the others.

Multiple Missing Teeth

Losing several teeth throughout your mouth creates gaps that destabilize your remaining teeth and compromise your ability to eat properly. Full-mouth rehabilitation replaces these missing teeth with implants, bridges, or other restorations while addressing any damage to the teeth you still have.

Failed Previous Dental Work

Old crowns that no longer fit properly, bridges that have failed, or multiple fillings that are breaking down all need replacement. When most of your existing dental work reaches the end of its lifespan simultaneously, comprehensive rehabilitation makes more sense than replacing each piece separately.

Trauma or Injury

Accidents that damage multiple teeth, fracture your jaw, or severely injure your mouth require extensive reconstruction to restore both appearance and function. Rehabilitation coordinates the various procedures needed to rebuild what was damaged.

Creating Your Personalized Treatment Plan

Dr. Igor Lantsberg begins with a thorough evaluation that goes beyond what happens during regular checkups. This assessment includes comprehensive X-rays, photographs, and often CT scans to see the complete picture of your oral health. Impressions of your teeth create models that show exactly how your upper and lower teeth come together. The team analyzes your bite relationship, jaw joint function, and the condition of each individual tooth.

This information guides the development of a treatment plan that prioritizes procedures in the right sequence. Some treatments must happen before others—for instance, gum disease needs control before placing permanent crowns, and bone grafting must heal before implant placement. The plan maps out the entire journey from start to finish, including timelines and what you can expect at each stage.

You’ll have opportunities to ask questions and discuss options. Sometimes multiple approaches could work for your situation, each with different advantages regarding cost, timeline, or long-term maintenance. The team explains these options clearly so you can make informed decisions about your care.

Common Procedures in Full-Mouth Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation plans typically combine several types of treatment:

Periodontal therapy – Deep cleanings and gum treatments establish a healthy foundation before restorative work begins.
Root canals – Saving infected teeth through endodontic treatment preserves your natural tooth structure.
Dental implants – Replacing missing teeth with permanent posts that integrate into your jawbone.
Crowns and bridges – Covering damaged teeth and filling gaps with durable restorations.
Veneers – Improving the appearance of front teeth while protecting them from further damage.
Orthodontics – Moving teeth into better positions before restoration creates a more stable bite.
Bone and tissue grafting – Rebuilding lost bone and gum tissue to support implants and improve aesthetics.

The specific combination depends entirely on your individual needs. Some people need most of these procedures, while others require only a few performed strategically.

Phasing Treatment for Manageable Progress

Full-mouth rehabilitation doesn’t mean every procedure happens at once. The treatment gets divided into phases that make the process more manageable both physically and financially. Early phases often focus on addressing pain, treating infections, and stabilizing urgent problems. Middle phases handle the bulk of restorative work—placing implants, preparing teeth for crowns, and creating the various restorations. Final phases place permanent crowns and bridges, make any necessary adjustments, and ensure everything functions correctly together.

Between phases, you’ll have healing time and opportunities to assess how things are progressing. Some people complete rehabilitation in a few months, while more complex cases might take a year or longer. The timeline depends on how much work you need, how quickly you heal, and whether certain procedures like bone grafting require extended healing periods.

Adjusting to Your Restored Smile

The transformation that comes with full-mouth rehabilitation goes beyond just getting new teeth. Your bite relationship changes, which affects how you chew and how your jaw muscles work. The first few weeks require adjustment as you relearn how to bite, chew, and speak with your rehabilitated mouth. Most people adapt quickly, but it’s normal to feel awkward initially.

Your appearance changes, too, especially if missing teeth or severe wear have altered your facial structure. Properly restored teeth support your lips and cheeks, often taking years off your appearance. People frequently comment that you look healthier and more vibrant after rehabilitation—the improvement is noticeable.

Protecting Your Investment Long-Term

Full-mouth rehabilitation represents a significant investment of time and resources. Protecting that investment requires commitment to excellent home care and regular professional maintenance. Brushing twice daily, flossing, and using any specialized cleaning tools recommended by the team keep your restorations and remaining natural teeth healthy.

Regular checkups and cleanings catch small problems before they become major issues. The team monitors how your restorations are holding up, checks for signs of grinding or clenching that could damage your work, and makes adjustments as needed. Many people who’ve completed rehabilitation also benefit from wearing a nightguard to protect their teeth from grinding damage during sleep.