Restoring Worn Dentition

When someone’s teeth show signs of extreme wear, not only can it be very uncomfortable and affect whole body health, but restoring the teeth to their natural state can be very difficult and very expensive.   Fortunately, advances in dentistry have been huge over the past decade thanks to extensive research and development.  New materials allow more conservative treatment options and spacing treatment out over time to help manage the expense of major dental work.  There are some situations in which a person’s teeth are worn or decayed to a point that the entire bite needs to be rebuilt.  This is known as a full mouth rehabilitation.  Traditionally, this would involve placing crowns on every tooth—usually all in one appointment.  Most people cannot afford this type of treatment, ultimately resulting in the loss of teeth.  A newly developed laboratory fabricated composite has allowed us to develop new techniques for these situations.  We can rebuild someone’s teeth with this material for a fraction of the price of traditional restorative materials.  This is not a definitive restoration, but rather a way to get someone to a stable bite and proper oral health.  Now this person has time, even a few years, to restore their teeth step-by-step instead of all-at-once.  This makes for shorter appointments, easier treatment, utilization of insurance benefits, and spacing of financial obligations.  Now people who need major restorative dentistry have access to it when it used to not be an option.