Smile Makeover
Fix Multiple Oral Health Problems With a Smile Makeover
Your teeth, gums, and jaws are all closely connected, so it is common for patients to suffer from multiple dental problems at the same time. To combat decay, damage, and infection our doctors will design smile makeover and full mouth reconstruction plans that can address several concerns simultaneously. Depending on your dental problems, our team may even be able to combine multiple treatments into a single appointment for faster results. A full mouth reconstruction or a smile makeover can renew your ability to eat and speak properly and smile with confidence.
Since every patient has different needs, no single full mouth reconstruction is the same. Like a smile makeover, a full mouth reconstruction combines multiple dental procedures into a comprehensive treatment plan. While a smile makeover focuses on cosmetic enhancement, full mouth reconstructions are dedicated to restoring a compromised smile to full function. Your plan may include dental implants for missing teeth, periodontal therapy for gum disease, tooth-colored fillings for cavities and/or dental crowns for added strength and support for damaged teeth.
As the needs of every patient are different, no two full mouth reconstruction or smile makeover treatment plans are the same. Some of the most commonly included treatments are:
- Dental implants: Secured directly to the jaw, dental implants replace missing dental roots and provide unrivaled support for crowns, bridges, and dentures. For patients who have lost jawbone tissue as a result of missing teeth, we may recommend a preliminary bone graft or sinus lift to provide enough bone for implants and encourage bone regrowth. The process by which dental implants join with your jawbone to create a stable platform for implant restorations is called osseointegration. The implant stimulates new bone formation that wraps tightly around the implant for stability.
- Sinus lift: Your upper jaw near your molars and premolars loses bone material when teeth are removed or sometimes in the aging process. During a sinus lift or sinus augmentation, we add bone material between your jaw and maxillary sinuses located on either side of your nose. The main purpose of a sinus lift is to add bone density so that dental implants can be placed into a strong, secure foundation.
- Dental crowns and bridges: A dental crown or dental bridge can address damaged or missing teeth. Crowns and bridges are supported by your natural teeth rather than titanium implant posts. We use bridges to replace missing teeth. Dental bridges are typically two dental crowns and a false tooth in the middle called a pontic. The crowns fit over teeth directly adjacent to the space left by the lost tooth, thus bridging the gap and restoring bite and chewing function. Bridges can replace one or two adjacent missing teeth or an entire upper or lower dental arch.
- Dentures: Dentures can replace an entire upper or lower dental arch. Full dentures replace all of your upper or lower teeth, while partial dentures can be used to replace several missing teeth and restore proper bite and chewing function. Depending on your budget and needs, a denture may either attach to dental implants (implant-supported dentures) or rest directly on your gums. Wearing dentures requires a brief adjustment period until your jaw and mouth muscles adapt to the new appliance so you can speak and eat normally. You may feel as if you have a mouth full of marbles at first, but this feeling will improve with each passing day as your mouth adapts to the new appliance.
- Tooth-colored fillings: Made of a tooth-colored composite mixture, tooth-colored fillings can restore decayed or damaged teeth. The composite resin we use as filling material can be color-matched to blend with your smile. Unlike old-fashioned dental fillings that were made from silver or other metal amalgams, these dental fillings are tooth-colored, bond to your teeth for added strength and match your teeth perfectly so no one will know you have had dental fillings.
- Periodontal disease prevention and treatment: Since untreated gum disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis can severely weaken your oral health, periodontal treatment is a powerful tool, particularly for full mouth reconstruction. Depending on the severity of your gum disease, you may just need a deep cleaning or a periodontal surgical procedure.
- Root canal therapy: If decay reaches the innermost portion of your tooth, our dentist can perform root canal therapy to remove the source of the infection and eliminate your pain. Afterwards, a dental crown is placed over the tooth to restore function and protect it from breaking. Today’s root canal therapy is a relatively painless, comfortable procedure that actually eliminates your toothache pain.
After evaluating your smile, your dentist will recommend the treatments most appropriate for your smile makeover or full mouth reconstruction. If necessary, we may also suggest mouth guards to protect your teeth at night from grinding (called bruxism) or wisdom teeth removal to ease overcrowding in your jaw.
The dental team at Levittown Family Dental Associates can restore the beauty and function of your teeth and gums with a full mouth reconstruction or smile makeover. To find out how treatment can benefit you, reach out to our office here on our website or by calling (215) 960-9628 to schedule a consultation. We welcome patients from Levittown and neighboring communities.