Full-Mouth Reconstruction
A full-mouth reconstruction is a challenging treatment modality.
The entire dentition is rehabilitated during a full-mouth reconstruction.
The restorative dentist needs to thoroughly understand every aspect of the dentition,
its relationship to the temporo-mandibular joints, and the functional interactions of the masticatory
muscles. A full-mouth
reconstruction approaches the oral cavity truly holistically. It leads to a complete
rehabilitation of the mouth. Factors such as "vertical dimension," "centric relation," "speech,"
"muscle tone," and "equilibrated bite" are essential elements of a full-mouth reconstruction.
What are the most common reasons for a full-mouth reconstruction?
Patients requiring extensive restorative care frequently exhibit significant
loss of tooth structure. Specific clinical findings in an extremely worn dentition
may vary widely and are often confusing. Severe wear can result from a mechanical
cause, a chemical cause, or a combination of causes. The location of the wear,
the accompanying symptoms and signs, and information gained from the patient
interview are essential components in determining the etiology.
Severe wear
Excessive wear is often caused by hyperactive masticatory muscels and results in
unacceptable damage of the occluding surfaces of the teeth.
This in turn may cause a deterioration of structure of the front teeth, which are necessary
for specific protective guidance functions, phonetics, and aesthetics.
Patients most at risk of dental erosion have work and sports dehydration,
caffeine addiction, gastro-oesophageal reflux, asthma, diabetes mellitus,
hypertension or other systemic diseases or syndromes that predispose
to xerostomia (dry mouth). Saliva protects the teeth from the extrinsic
and intrinsic acids which cause dental erosion. Erosion, exacerbated by
attrition and abrasion, is the main cause of tooth wear.
Anorexia and Bulemia
Intrinsic and extrinsic acids are the main etiologic reason for dental erosion.
In combination of mechanical abrasion and tooth wear, the processes of erosion
lead to substantial loss of tooth structure. In cases of severe eating disorders,
like anorexia and bulimia, the whole supragingival tooth structure may be worn off
over the years. These patients will need extensive reconstructive dental therapy
to regain function and esthetics of their dentition.
This page was just established and will evolve in the near future. However, please
do not hesitate to contact Dr. Rabanus
if you have any questions about full-mouth reconstruction.
Many aspects of a full-mouth reconstruction are also covered in the page
Extreme Makeovers.
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