Full Mouth Restoration: What It Involves, Step by Step

What "full mouth restoration" means

Full mouth restoration (also called full mouth rehabilitation) is a planned set of treatments that rebuilds most or all of the teeth in one or both jaws. It is not a single procedure. It brings together treatments you may already know, such as gum treatment, fillings, root canal treatment, implants, crowns and bridges, in an order that makes the result last.

The aim is a mouth that is healthy, comfortable to chew with and stable over years. Appearance usually improves too, but it follows from the health and the bite, not the other way round.

Who it is for

It is usually considered when problems affect many teeth at once, for example:

• several missing teeth, on one or both sides
• teeth worn down by grinding or acid erosion, so they have become short and sensitive
• many large old fillings or crowns that are breaking down
• gum disease that has loosened teeth
• a bite that has collapsed after teeth were lost, so the face looks shorter and chewing is uncomfortable

If only one or two teeth need work, a smaller plan is usually enough.

Step 1: A full assessment

Planning starts with an examination of every tooth, the gums, the jaw joints and the way the teeth meet. X-rays are taken, and an OPG or CBCT scan may be advised if implants are being considered. Impressions or digital scans, photographs and sometimes a trial set-up in wax show what the finished teeth could look like.

Your general health matters too. Diabetes, smoking or tobacco chewing, and some medicines affect healing, so the dentist will ask about them. At the end you should receive a written plan with the stages, the options at each stage and what affects the cost.

Step 2: A healthy base first

New crowns or implants placed on unhealthy gums or decayed roots do not last, so the foundation comes first:

• Gum treatment. Deep cleaning removes plaque and tartar below the gum line. Pockets are re-measured after 6 to 8 weeks.
• Decay and infection. Cavities are filled. Teeth with infected or inflamed nerves may need root canal treatment.
• Teeth that cannot be saved. These are removed, and the gaps are allowed to heal.

This stage can take several weeks, and it is often the most important for the long-term result.

Step 3: Replacing missing teeth

Gaps can be filled in more than one way, and the choice depends on bone, the teeth next to the gap, health and preference:

• Implants. A titanium post is placed in the jawbone and bonds with it over about 3 to 6 months before a crown is fitted. Bone grafting may be needed first if bone has shrunk.
• Bridges. A false tooth is held by crowns on the teeth on either side.
• Dentures. Removable partial or full dentures, sometimes clipped onto implants for extra grip.

When most teeth in a jaw are missing, a full arch of fixed teeth on four or more implants is one option; All-on-4 full-mouth implants are explained separately.

Step 4: Rebuilding the teeth and checking the bite

Worn, broken or heavily filled teeth are rebuilt with crowns, onlays or bonded fillings. When teeth are badly worn, the height of the bite may need to be restored. This is often tested first with temporary crowns, worn for a few weeks to check comfort, speech and chewing before the final ones are made.

The final crowns and bridges are then fitted and the bite is adjusted so that the teeth meet evenly. If you grind your teeth, a night guard is usually advised to protect the new work.

How long it takes

Most full mouth restorations take several months. A plan without implants may be finished in 2 to 4 months; with implants or bone grafts it commonly takes 6 to 12 months or longer, because the bone needs time to heal. Visits are spread out, and temporary teeth are used so that you are not left with gaps in between.

Risks and limits

Every stage has its own risks: sensitivity after preparation, a crown or filling that needs adjusting, a root-canal-treated tooth that fails later, or an implant that does not bond with the bone. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, grinding and poor cleaning raise these risks. Restorations do not last forever: crowns and bridges commonly last 10 to 15 years and may need replacing in time.

Looking after the result

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily, including under bridges and around implants.
• Wear a night guard if one has been made for you.
• Keep regular check-ups and professional cleanings, usually every 3 to 6 months at first.
• Avoid using your teeth to open packets or bite very hard objects.