A good set of teeth is not just for great smiles; rather, it affects every aspect of life—from self-confidence to relationships, as well as the ability to interact with other people. Studies reveal that neglected dental care can lead to low self-esteem and social isolation. More importantly, it negatively affects key elements of social well-being, such as education and income.
Fortunately, reconstructive dentistry can save your severely worn-down teeth. As the name implies, full mouth dental restoration refers to the rebuilding and/or replacing some or all of the teeth in the mouth. Its goal is to restore function in addition to beautifying decayed or fractured teeth.
Overview of Full Mouth Dental Restoration
Nowadays, reconstructive dentistry has evolved to be more natural-looking and long-lasting. Full mouth dental restoration essentially combines several procedures of cosmetic and restorative dental treatments. Here is an introduction of the most common procedures used in dental restoration:
- Crowns are durable porcelain or ceramic protective caps, which are custom-made to cover the teeth. They improve chewing capacity and teeth aesthetics.
- These are thin porcelain shells applied on the teeth for handling cracks, stains, gaps, misshapen teeth and other unsightly problems in the teeth.
- Dental implants. This procedure involves inserting titanium root-like shape into the jawbone, on which crowns are applied to replace missing teeth. It is a long-lasting solution for tooth loss.
- There are two options in teeth whitening. It can be done in the dental office which ensures immediate effect or at home using whitening trays as instructed by your dentist.
- Aside from traditional wire and elastic bond braces, patients have the option to use the more innovative invisible aligners, such as ClearCorrect, which features nearly-invisible appearance and use of advanced 3D custom computerized modeling.
Reconstructive Dentistry and Sedation Dentistry
Does imagining your jaws getting drilled to put screws send chills down your spine? Well, you are not alone.
According to the FDI World Dental Federation, nearly 100 percent of adults are affected by tooth decay. Meanwhile, among people aged 65-74 years, 30 percent have no natural teeth. However, more than half of the global population does not receive proper dental care due to several problems, such as dental anxiety.
In the US alone, about 75 percent of the population is afflicted with varying degrees of dental anxiety, according to The Journal of the American Dentist Association.
Technological advancements have completely reshaped dentistry and dental care, which now incorporates psychology to provide a more comfortable environment for patients to overcome their anxiety. Patients now have a lot of options for more efficient and less painful dental procedures.
Sedation dentistry, for example, goes hand in hand with reconstructive dentistry to help patients relax and lower the pain threshold during treatment. It ranges from minimal sedation through inhalation to moderate IV sedation, where patients are in twilight sleep and have no memory of the actual procedure—including the scary drilling and needles.
Dr Reem Kidess of Scottsdale, AZ, is experienced in full mouth dental restoration and has been in dental practice since 1995. She is also an Elite Member of Cerec Doctors and is licensed in sedation dentistry by the Arizona Board of Dentistry. For more information on dental restoration procedures, please visit our office or give us a call at (480) 991-2290.