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Full-mouth rehabilitation rebuilds the bite as a whole when most of the teeth are worn, broken down or missing: crowns and bridges on many or all of the teeth, implants where teeth are gone, and often gum treatment and orthodontics first. It is the largest undertaking in dentistry. At Vizcaya Dental Arts it is planned by Dr. Kottar and Dr. Hong together and done in this office, with several months in temporary restorations to test the new bite before the final porcelain is made.
Who it is for
Rehabilitation is for a mouth where the condition or position of most of the teeth has deteriorated:
- Severe wear, usually from grinding or acid
- Major bite problems
- Teeth worn so short that the bite has lost height
- Many failing restorations
- Several missing teeth
Treating these one tooth at a time tends to fail, because each new restoration is built into a bite that is itself the problem.
Signs that a mouth may need it
- Front teeth worn flat or short, with chipping edges that keep breaking
- A bite that has lost height, so the lower face looks shorter and the chin closer to the nose
- Several crowns or large fillings failing at once, or teeth that have been patched repeatedly
- Missing teeth on both sides, with the remaining teeth drifting, tipping or over-erupting into the gaps
- Sensitivity across many teeth from exposed dentin, or a bite that feels uneven no matter how a single tooth is adjusted
- A history of grinding or acid erosion that has thinned the enamel everywhere
None of these alone means rehabilitation. Several together usually do.
What it can involve
Most rehabilitations are built around crowns and bridges on many or all of the teeth, with implants, single or in bridges, where teeth are missing. Complex cases often need gum surgery to create a healthy foundation and orthodontic treatment to move teeth into positions that can be restored. All of it is done in this office: Dr. Kottar handles the restorative, implant and periodontal work, Dr. Hong the orthodontics, and they plan the sequence together. We have treated cases from the straightforward, crowns and a few implants, to those that needed every discipline in turn.
The orthodontic part
Dr. Hong’s part is often what makes the restorative plan possible:
- Moving tipped teeth upright so they can carry crowns
- Leveling a bite that has drifted
- Opening space for an implant where teeth have crowded into a gap
- Intruding over-erupted teeth so the opposing arch can be restored to the right height
Those movements happen before the restorations and change what Dr. Kottar can build. Because the two plan the case together from the first records, the orthodontic result is designed around the final teeth, and the plan does not pass between two offices. When implants are part of the plan, their positions are set in the same design.
Why it happened
Whatever wore or broke the teeth will do the same to the new restorations unless it is addressed:
- If the cause is grinding, the plan includes a night guard.
- If it is acid reflux, your physician manages the reflux and we design the restorations to withstand what remains.
- If the bite itself drove the wear, the bite is corrected before the teeth are rebuilt.
Understanding how the mouth got here is the part of planning that decides how long the result lasts.
How we plan
- Step 1 of 8 Records
A full examination with digital scans, photographs, X-rays and a CBCT scan where needed, gum measurements, and measurements of the bite and the face.
- Step 2 of 8 Planning
Dr. Kottar and Dr. Hong review the case together and work out the options: usually two or three different routes that would address the problems, with their trade-offs in time, invasiveness and cost.
- Step 3 of 8 Your decision
A second visit to go through the findings and the options with you, with written estimates. We recommend, and you choose.
- Step 4 of 8 Preliminary treatment
Gum therapy, orthodontics, extractions or implant placement, in whatever order the plan calls for, and time to heal.
- Step 5 of 8 Design
The laboratory produces a digital design and wax-up of the proposed teeth: their shape, length, position and how they meet.
- Step 6 of 8 Months in temporaries
Provisional restorations made from the design are worn for several months. This is where the plan is tested: is the bite comfortable, is the appearance right, are the teeth the right length? Changes are made here, before the porcelain is made.
- Step 7 of 8 Final restorations
When the temporaries have proven the design, final impressions are taken and the definitive crowns, bridges and implant restorations are made and delivered, often in stages.
- Step 8 of 8 Protection and maintenance
A night guard to protect the work and keep the teeth from shifting, excellent home care including a water flosser, and regular cleanings.
Why the temporaries matter
A rehabilitation changes the bite, the length of the teeth and the way the face is supported. Several months in provisional restorations show how that feels to live with. If the bite is comfortable in the temporaries, it is reproduced in the final restorations. For many patients a very good bite is achievable, because rehabilitation gives us control over every tooth. Occasionally a compromise is needed, and the temporaries are where we find that out, with you.
Sequencing and practicalities
A rehabilitation takes many visits, a long time and a large cost, and all three are discussed before anything starts.
Afterward
- A night guard every night keeps the restorations from grinding against each other and the teeth from shifting.
- Daily cleaning, including between the teeth and under bridges, and regular professional cleanings keep the gums healthy around the new work.
Maintained that way, a rehabilitation lasts for many years. Neglected, it fails the way the original teeth did.
Frequently asked questions
How long does full-mouth rehabilitation take?
Months, and for complex cases involving orthodontics or gum surgery, longer. Records and planning come first, then any preliminary treatment, then several months in temporaries to prove the bite before the final restorations are made. We give you a realistic timeline for your case at the planning visit, not a generic one.
What does it cost?
It is the largest treatment in dentistry and is quoted case by case after the planning visit, with the stages itemized. Insurance contributes to parts of it within the annual maximum, and the treatment can sometimes be sequenced one arch at a time to spread the cost.
Does every tooth need a crown?
No. Rehabilitation means restoring the mouth as a whole, not crowning every tooth. Some teeth need crowns or bridges, some need implants, some may need only a filling or a veneer, and some need nothing. The plan is specific to each tooth.
Can it be done in phases?
Often. One arch may be completed first while the other is held in a temporary solution, and preliminary treatment such as gum therapy or orthodontics naturally comes before the restorations. The sequence is agreed at the start.
Will it fix my jaw joint pain?
Rehabilitation restores a stable, comfortable bite, and many patients feel better for it, but it is not a treatment for jaw joint disorders and we do not promise it as one. Joint problems are assessed separately, with a specialist where needed, before any restorative plan is finalized.
How long will the result last?
A long time, if the causes are controlled and the work is protected: a night guard every night, excellent home care and regular cleanings. We also look for the reason the teeth wore down in the first place, because whatever damaged them can damage the new restorations too.
