Full Mouth Reconstruction

Full mouth reconstruction is not a single procedure. It's a coordinated plan that addresses the entire dentition — upper arch, lower arch, the bite that connects them, and the bone and soft tissue that support it all — when a tooth-by-tooth approach is no longer enough.

When it's the right approach

Full mouth reconstruction is indicated when the dental problems are too widespread or interconnected for a piecemeal solution to succeed. Common situations include:

• Extensive tooth loss across multiple areas of the mouth.
• Severe wear from long-term grinding or clenching (bruxism).
• Widespread decay that has compromised the structural integrity of many teeth.
• A history of failed or aging dental work that needs to be replaced as a system, not one piece at a time.
• Acid erosion from reflux or dietary factors that has thinned the enamel across many teeth.
• Trauma affecting multiple teeth simultaneously.
• Congenital conditions affecting tooth development or jaw structure.

How Dr. Rasmussen plans the case

The planning process is the difference between a successful reconstruction and a series of expensive disappointments. Dr. Rasmussen begins with a comprehensive examination that includes:

• Full-mouth radiographs and a cone-beam CT scan when implants are being considered.
• Detailed photographs of your teeth, smile, and facial proportions.
• Impressions or digital scans of both arches.
• Evaluation of the jaw joints for pain, clicking, limited opening, or other signs of dysfunction.
• A facebow recording that captures the relationship of the upper jaw to the skull so the case can be mounted on an articulator that simulates how the jaw actually moves.

From those records, Dr. Rasmussen develops a diagnostic wax-up or digital design that maps out the final tooth positions, shapes, and bite relationship before any clinical work begins. This blueprint defines how much vertical dimension needs to be restored, where implants should be placed, which teeth can be saved and which cannot, and what the final result will look like.

In many cases, provisional restorations are fabricated from that blueprint and placed in the mouth as a test drive — letting you live with the new bite and aesthetics for several weeks before the definitive restorations are committed.

The treatment phases

Reconstruction is carried out in a logical sequence, with each phase creating the foundation for the next:

• Phase 1 — Stabilization. Extractions, periodontal treatment, and any bone grafting needed to prepare the foundation.
• Phase 2 — Implant placement. When implants are part of the plan, an oral surgeon or periodontist places them according to Dr. Rasmussen's restorative design. (Dr. Rasmussen does not perform implant placement surgery himself; he restores the implants and coordinates closely with the surgical team.)
• Phase 3 — Provisional restorations. Temporary restorations are placed and refined. This is the "test drive" phase where the final design is validated before committing to the definitive prosthesis.
• Phase 4 — Final restorations. Crowns, bridges, implant-supported prostheses, and any other definitive restorations are designed, fabricated, and delivered. The case is fine-tuned for function, comfort, and appearance.

The total timeline typically spans six to eighteen months depending on complexity, with recovery distributed across the phases rather than concentrated in a single healing period.

What the result looks like

A successful full mouth reconstruction produces teeth that:

• Function comfortably together — chewing is efficient, the bite is stable, and the jaw joints work without pain.
• Look natural in proportion, color, and arrangement.
• Distribute biting forces evenly so individual teeth and implants aren't overloaded.
• Are designed for cleaning and long-term maintenance.
• Restore the facial support that may have been lost as teeth wore down or disappeared.

Long-term maintenance

Reconstruction is a major investment of time, effort, and money — and its long-term success depends on the maintenance that follows. Dr. Rasmussen follows reconstruction patients closely, particularly during the first two years, to confirm that the bite remains stable and the restorations are functioning as designed. Beyond that, ongoing care includes regular hygiene appointments, periodic radiographs to monitor implants and restorations, and a custom nightguard for patients with grinding habits.