Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you—so if your teeth are stained, damaged, or compromised in any way, your self-confidence will sustain quite a blow! Fortunately, full mouth reconstruction is one of the ways that your dentist can provide you with an enhanced smile. This process utilizes multiple cosmetic treatments, combining them into one comprehensive procedure that fixes your smile and boosts your confidence. That said, you might be wondering what to expect while recovering from full mouth reconstruction. Keep reading to learn more about what you can anticipate during each part of the process.
Dental Fillings
Fillings are one of the most popular restorative treatment options available! It typically takes a single appointment to receive them, and a minor anesthetic is usually required—but it’s not a painful process by any means! Fillings are used to repair teeth with mild decay or damage, and you can usually resume normal daily activity right after receiving them. However, it usually takes a couple of hours for the anesthesia to fully wear off.
Crowns & Bridges
Crowns and bridges can also be used to fix teeth with minor damage, although these options usually take two appointments to complete. Your dentist needs to take impressions of your teeth before they can fit you with these sorts of restorations, which means a follow-up visit is required. And despite anything you’ve maybe heard, the process for receiving a crown or bridge is almost entirely pain-free—most patients experience minor sensitivity and swelling that fades away within a few days.
Root Canal Therapy
Sometimes the inner part of your tooth (the pulp) can become infected and cause some serious oral health issues; if this has happened to you, your dentist might recommend a root canal. Your dentist will remove the nerves and blood vessels from the affected tooth and proceed to disinfect it. Then they will fill the newly made canal with a restorative material and seal it back up, usually with a dental crown. Root canals have an unfair reputation and many people have been incorrectly informed about how much the procedure hurts; other than some minor sensitivity and swelling, the process is mostly pain-free.
Tooth Extraction
If you have a tooth with a poor long-term prognosis and there are no other feasible options, your dentist might recommend having it extracted. Recovering from a tooth extraction can take up to a week or so, depending on self-care and personal hygiene. It’ll take the gums a few days to fully close over the socket, but it can actually take several months for the bone underneath to fully heal. Most patients feel well enough to resume daily activity after 3 to 5 days.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, and they can last for several decades with proper care and offer unmatched benefits compared to other treatment options. Your dentist will surgically implant titanium posts directly into your jawbone, where they’ll begin fusing with it. This process can take several months to fully complete; however, immediate healing after the surgery usually only takes about a week.
Even though full mouth reconstruction might sound like a long and drawn-out process, many of the procedures that constitute it are relatively straightforward with manageable recovery timelines.
About the Author
The team at MOD Squad Dental is thrilled to serve the dental needs of the San Diego area under the leadership of Dr. Greg Friedman. Dr. Friedman received his dental doctorate from the Washington University School of Dental Medicine and is a proud member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association. If you have any questions about undergoing full mouth reconstruction or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact Dr. Friedman through his website or over the phone for assistance: (858) 682-2394.
