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Full Mouth Reconstruction
Full mouth reconstruction means rebuilding or replacing all, or nearly all, of the teeth in both jaws under one plan, so that the teeth, the bite and the jaw joints work together again. It is treatment for a mouth whose problems are too widespread to solve one tooth at a time. At Winnetka Dental Arts, Dr. Warga plans each reconstruction and designs every restoration in it himself.
When a Reconstruction Is Needed
A reconstruction is usually considered when several of these are true at once:
- Teeth worn short, flat or chipped by years of grinding or clenching
- Many large fillings or crowns that are failing or breaking down
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Several missing teeth
- A bite that no longer works comfortably, with symptoms in the jaw joints or muscles
A significant part of Dr. Warga’s work is also correcting teeth that function poorly after earlier cosmetic makeovers, veneers, crowns, bridges or orthodontics.
It Begins With a Comprehensive Exam
Nothing is planned until the whole mouth has been examined. A comprehensive exam covers the teeth and gums and the structures around them: the airway, the head and neck muscles and the jaw joints. We take a 3D cone beam (CBCT) scan here in our office, which shows the teeth, roots, bone and jaw joints in three dimensions, and a 3D digital impression of your teeth.
From these, Dr. Warga develops a diagnosis and a treatment blueprint. You receive a written treatment plan, and a consultation to go through it before any treatment begins.
Built Around Your Bite
Like gears, teeth wear out faster when the mechanics are not precise. That is why a reconstruction is planned around the function of your bite: how your teeth meet, and how they move against each other when you chew.
Where the exam finds signs of a bite problem, treatment often begins with a splint, followed by equilibration (bite adjustment). The splint also lets us try a proposed change in the position and function of your bite before committing to permanent treatment.
What a Reconstruction Can Include
Every plan is different. Yours may combine:
- Crowns and bridges, to rebuild worn, broken or heavily filled teeth and to replace missing ones
- Dental implants, with bone grafting where it is needed
- Porcelain or composite veneers
- Clear aligners, to move teeth into a better position before they are restored
- Splint therapy and bite adjustment
Dr. Warga performs extractions, guided implant placement and bone grafting himself, in our office. Root canal treatment (endodontics) is not performed here. For it, and when a case calls for an oral surgeon, we work in partnership with endodontists and oral surgeons; where a plan calls for an orthodontist or a periodontist, we consult with one. Our office coordinates all of these disciplines.
Designed by Dr. Warga, Tried Before It Is Final
Every crown, bridge and veneer in a reconstruction is designed individually. Dr. Warga works on the computer-aided design himself, adjusting or redrawing the shape, the contacts and the bite of each restoration. The design is not left to the laboratory or to the software.
Prototypes of the restorations are made in advance, so you can experience the final design before the permanent restorations are placed. The permanent ones are made by dental laboratories chosen for their materials and craftsmanship.
How Long It Takes
A reconstruction is done in stages, and how long it takes depends on what your plan includes. Dental implants and bone grafts need time to heal; a larger graft may need several months before it can support an implant. Your plan sets out the order of treatment, so you know what comes first and why.
If you have dental insurance and would like us to, we will help you plan the timing of treatment around your deductible, annual maximum and renewal date. Financing options may be available as well; please ask us about payment plans.
Who Plans Your Care
Dr. Warga has practiced as a general dentist for over 40 years, with an emphasis on prosthetics, implants, restorative dentistry and occlusal (bite) function. He served as Lead Faculty at the L.D. Pankey Institute for post-graduate advanced dental education, founded Lifetime Functional and Aesthetic Restorations and professional study clubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, and lectures and teaches comprehensive dentistry to dental organizations.
After Your Reconstruction
Our goal is dentistry that serves you for a lifetime. Many of our patients still wear crowns Dr. Warga placed decades ago. After a reconstruction, your periodic exams are where your restorations, your gums and your bite are checked for early signs of change.
To talk about a full mouth reconstruction, call or text us at (847) 441-6510.
Questions About Full Mouth Reconstruction
Have a question that is not here? Call or text us at (847) 441-6510.
Does a full mouth reconstruction mean replacing all of my teeth?
No. It means the whole mouth is treated under one plan. Teeth that can be kept are rebuilt with crowns, veneers or other restorations, and missing teeth are replaced with bridges or dental implants. Which teeth need what is decided from your comprehensive exam.
How is a full mouth reconstruction different from a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is chosen for appearance. A reconstruction restores function: teeth that are worn, broken or missing, and a bite that no longer works comfortably. The two overlap, because rebuilding teeth changes how they look, and Dr. Warga plans the appearance and the function together.
How long does a full mouth reconstruction take?
It depends on what your plan includes. A reconstruction is done in stages. Dental implants and bone grafts need time to heal, and a larger graft may need several months before it can support an implant. Your plan sets out the order of treatment before you begin.
Can I see what my new teeth will be like before they are made?
Yes. Prototypes of the restorations are made in advance, so you can experience the final design before the permanent restorations are placed. Where your bite is being changed, a splint lets us try the proposed change first.
Is the whole reconstruction done in your office?
Dr. Warga plans the reconstruction, designs the restorations, and performs extractions, guided implant placement and bone grafting himself, in our office. Root canal treatment is not performed here: for it, and when a case calls for an oral surgeon, we work in partnership with endodontists and oral surgeons and coordinate your care with them.
Will my dental insurance pay for a full mouth reconstruction?
Coverage varies from plan to plan, and your insurance company and plan benefits determine the amount paid. You receive a written treatment plan and, on request, an estimate you can submit for a pre-treatment determination of benefits. If you would like, we will also help you plan the timing of treatment around your deductible and annual maximum. Our Insurance page has the details.