If you have several dental issues that require treatment, it’s often more advantageous to have them corrected as part of a pre-planned series of treatments. It can save you time and money in the long run. Depending on the number of procedures you have performed and their complexity, the recovery time can vary. Still, you’d like a basic idea of what to expect when healing from a full mouth reconstruction. Continue reading to get the answer.
How a Full Mouth Reconstruction Works
With a fully reconstructed mouth, you can look forward to heightened functionality and a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Your dentist will start by developing a comprehensive plan that meets all your dental health and cosmetic needs. Because the procedure can range in complexity, the completion time can take from a few weeks to months to complete.
Here are some of the possible treatments and their respective recovery times:
- Dental crown – Crafted from durable porcelain, a dental crown can be used to strengthen a severely damaged tooth or replace it. It usually takes a few days to recover from the procedure.
- Fixed bridge – A fixed bridge is comprised of two to four dental crowns that are affixed to a single apparatus and is used to replace sequential missing teeth. The recovery process for bridge placement is usually a few days.
- Veneers – Thin shells that are crafted from high-grade ceramics, veneers improve smile aesthetics by masking gapped, crooked, chipped or stained front-facing teeth. While the procedure typically takes two visits to complete, there is no recovery time required.
- Cosmetic bonding – Using compound resin material that is applied directly to the teeth, your dentist will shape the material to leave you with a symmetrical and attractive smile.
- Removable dentures – It can take several months to design and fabricate a complete set of dentures. Then, it can take around 30 days to adjust to them.
- Fixed dentures – Attached to dental implants, fixed (over) dentures provide a lasting and effective replacement solution. It can take several months to complete the process.
- Dental implants – The most reliable method of replacing missing teeth, dental implantation can take several months for insertion, healing and the placement of a restoration.
- Teeth whitening – With professional teeth whitening, you can have your smile brightened by up to eight shades, and there is usually no recovery time needed.
- Periodontal disease treatment – This provides a way to overcome gum (periodontal) disease so that you can move forward with fully restoring your smile. It can sometimes take months to get to a sufficient level of gum health, but there still may be a need for continued treatment after the rehabilitation process is completed.
The Typical Recovery Time
There is no set recovery time, as a full mouth reconstruction is completely customized to meet your dental needs and desires. However, when you visit your dentist for a consultation, you can get an idea of how long the procedure will take from start to finish. Once the treatment process gets underway, your dentist will also let you know if there are any changes or alterations needed to the plan so you can be best prepared.
While a full mouth reconstruction can be rather involved, the feeling of having your oral health completely renewed is blissful. To learn more, reach out to your local dentist!
About the Author
Dr. Jeffrey Skupny earned his dental degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Throughout his career, he has participated in extensive postgraduate programs, which includes training from Spear Education. Dr. Skupny combines his vast knowledge and years of experience to offer his patients a host of dental treatments at Island Coast Dentistry, and he can be reached for more information or to schedule a visit through his website.