Sometimes, it’s best to address problems in one fell swoop—like running all your errands on your day off! This holistic approach can also apply to dentistry in a process called full-mouth rehab. You can be confident that regardless of your diagnosis, Dr. Gatgens and Dr. Densmore of Accent Smile Center in Dickson, TN, will ensure that your full mouth rehab recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
So, What is Full Mouth Rehab?
Full mouth rehab (or rehabilitation) is also called full mouth construction or full mouth restoration. It’s a holistic, comprehensive dental treatment plan intending to restore general health, function, and aesthetics of the entire mouth of the patient. Our team always customizes this to every individual based on what needs to be addressed.
It can involve several procedures (typically two or more) in succession to one another, sometimes dealing with many different parts of the mouth. This can be beneficial, as it prevents time elapsing and conditions worsening, which can happen should you spread out the treatments sporadically.
Here are a few common issues that we might observe as constituting full-mouth rehab:
- Damaged or Missing Teeth: Extensive fractures and decay, or fill gaps in your dental arch, may constitute a more thorough treatment than standard restorative procedures.
- Gum Disease: Also known as periodontitis, this can affect gum recession and overall tooth mobility. Should you deal with this condition, Dr. Gatgens and Dr. Densmore might add periodontal treatments to your treatment plan.
- Issues with Your Bite: Malocclusion (overbites, underbites, and crossbites) can be addressed in a variety of ways by our team that will help improve the comfort of your daily life following your recovery.
- Severely Worn Teeth: If you experience teeth grinding while you sleep, acid erosion, or other abrasive habits (such as eating overly hard foods), your teeth can wear down dramatically and impact you functionally and aesthetically.
- Jaw Problems: Some of these can be quite serious, and the process can be lengthy! It can range from several weeks to several months. Our doctors will lay that timeline out for you at the start of your procedure so that you have an idea of what to expect, both during the process and in the time after.
Your Road to Recovery
Recovery from full-mouth rehab can be a hugely transformative process—and sometimes, transformation takes time! But it will be well worth it; by the end of the plan, a patient can expect a better overall functionality of their teeth, a more aesthetically pleasing smile, and an improved quality of life. Let’s break down some of the critical information you’ll need for a successful recovery.
Dietary Restrictions
This applies to a lot of dental procedures, from braces to dental implants. Usually, immediately following a procedure, our doctor may suggest that you maintain a diet of soft foods or liquids. This avoids painful eating but also promotes overall healing.
Oral Hygiene
Your oral hygiene is vital in any scenario, but it’s crucial to maintain it as you recover. This applies to your teeth and your gums and includes brushing, flossing, and rinsing. By following provided care instructions, complications are often avoided.
Post-Treatment Discomfort
Various procedures tend to have some uncomfortable results directly after leaving the office.
Whether it’s discomfort or swelling, it’s usually temporary and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. Your team at Accent Smile Center will advise you with specific care instructions to try and ebb any painful results—and don’t hesitate to call us if your discomfort persists.
If you encounter swelling, specifically, it’s best to apply cold compresses in addition to taking your medication.
Follow-Up Appointments
You can expect to have multiple visits to our office following various procedures. We would advise you to look at your calendar in advance for these follow-up appointments, as none of them should be missed. These meetings with our team will allow any adjustments to be made to your treatment plan as it continues and to monitor its progress.
Let Accent Smile Center Take Care of You!
While this process might sound intimidating, we ensure the best possible care for our patients in our exceptional Dickson office. You can schedule an appointment online with us or give us a phone call at 615-802-7968.