In short
What is full-mouth reconstruction?
Full-mouth reconstruction means rebuilding and/or replacing all of the teeth in your mouth, combining appearance with restorative dentistry. Unlike a smile makeover, which is mainly cosmetic, it also restores chewing. It can include onlays, crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants and dentures, and sometimes orthodontics.
From the office of Dr. Angela Berkovich, DMD, Deerfield Beach · (954) 427-3000
Last updated
Your case, from records to final teeth
A typical sequence, not a fixed schedule. Timing depends on your treatment, and implants add months of healing. The dental lab next door works alongside the phases where teeth are designed and made.1,2,4
- What it is
- Rebuilding and/or replacing all of the teeth, for chewing and appearance2
- Can include
- Onlays, crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, dentures, sometimes orthodontics2
- Bite changes
- Tested first in provisional (trial) restorations4
- Time
- Usually months; implants add three to nine months of healing1
- Dental lab
- Next door to the office
Who it may help
It may be an option if several of these apply to you. The exam decides.
- Several missing teeth
- Large fillings that are failing
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Teeth badly worn from grinding (bruxism) or from erosion
With heavy wear, the cause is diagnosed, controlled and watched first. Consensus guidance favors waiting to restore worn teeth as long as is reasonable, then doing it conservatively.
How a reconstruction is planned and built
A typical sequence. Your own plan may skip or repeat steps.
Records and bite analysis
X-rays or a CBCT scan (a three-dimensional x-ray), photos, scans or models of your teeth, and a check of your bite and jaw joints.
Get healthy first
Gum disease, decay and failing teeth are treated before anything is rebuilt.
Trial smile
Your new teeth are designed and made as provisional restorations, which you wear to test your bite, speech and looks before anything is final.4
Protect and maintain
A night guard where it helps, and regular checkups.
Full-mouth reconstruction or a smile makeover?
They overlap, but they start from different questions: do my teeth work, or do I like how they look?
| Aspect | Full-mouth reconstruction | Smile makeover |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Chewing and function, with appearance included2 | Appearance |
| Teeth involved | All of the teeth, rebuilt or replaced2 | The teeth that show when you smile |
| Typical treatments | Onlays, crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, dentures, sometimes orthodontics2 | Cosmetic treatments such as whitening, bonding, veneers or Invisalign |
| Your bite | May be changed, and tested first in provisional restorations4 | Not usually the focus |
| Time | Usually months, and longer when implants are involved1 | Depends on the treatments chosen |
Questions patients ask
Am I a candidate?
Possibly, if several of your teeth are missing, worn, broken or failing. The exam decides, and with heavy wear the cause is dealt with before rebuilding.2,3
Will my bite change?
Sometimes. Restoring worn teeth can mean raising the bite. A minimal change is preferred, and it is tested first in provisional restorations; with jaw joint (TMD) symptoms, a removable appliance is tried first.4
Why does it matter that the lab is next door?
Your dentist and the technician can look at your case together and talk directly about shade and fit. Your treatment time is still set by your plan and by healing.6
Will it improve my quality of life?
Research suggests it often does: a systematic review found quality of life frequently improves after treating moderate to severe tooth wear. The evidence is low-certainty, and results vary.5
Who you'll see
Dr. Angela Berkovich, DMD
Dentist, trained at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry
Dr. Berkovich plans each reconstruction with you, from the first records to the final teeth, and works with the technician in the dental lab next door.
Medical content reviewed by Dr. Angela Berkovich, DMD on .
Office: 1348 E Hillsboro Blvd Suite A, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. (954) 427-3000
About Dr. BerkovichSources
- Cleveland Clinic: Dental implants
- American College of Prosthodontists (GoToAPro): Full-mouth reconstruction
- PubMed: Loomans et al. 2017, severe tooth wear: European consensus statement
- PubMed: Abduo & Lyons 2012, clinical considerations for increasing occlusal vertical dimension
- PubMed: van Sambeek et al. 2024, quality of life after treatment of tooth wear: systematic review
- PubMed: Small 1998, communication between dentist and dental laboratory
General information, not a diagnosis or a promise of results. Individual results vary, and whether a treatment suits you depends on your exam.