Dr. Kavita Mahesh, Smile Care, Bandra 1.

While all changes to the face have a functional impact, even a minor change within the chewing system needs to be based entirely on function. Aesthetics cannot be achieved without function. In fact, any aesthetically pleasing smile makeover, evolved within a framework of function and interaction. Beauty is harmony and it also applies to your teeth and jaws.

We have a large group of specialized muscles that contract in certain situations and pull the overlying soft tissues into a smile. Teeth become exposed. The amount of tooth exposed during a smile varies from patient to patient. A young person displays more tooth surface than an older person. This is caused by two things: the progressive sagging of the upper lip and the attrition (shortening) of the upper incisors.

These signs of aging are the main reasons why many middle-aged individuals decide to 'lift' their smile by lengthening their front teeth with veneers. They often receive six to ten upper porcelain veneers. However, any dimensional change of the front teeth has to consider stomatognathic function. Another concern is loss of teeth which leads to jaw bone loss and collapse of facial support. Tooth replacement be it an anterior or a posterior tooth is important to restore oral and facial function.

The best tooth replacement options available today are with dental implants. These are tooth shaped titanium inserts which can receive caps once they integrate with the jaw bone to restore the original look, comfort and feel like our natural teeth. Dental implants can be utilized to restore one or even all teeth in our jaws based on patients restorative and esthetic needs. When you receive a new smile, it is not just 'painted' into your face. It is integrated in complete functional harmony with the surrounding structures of the skull.

A full-mouth oral reconstruction is a challenging treatment modality. The entire dentition is rehabilitated during a full-mouth reconstruction. The restorative dentist needs to thoroughly understand every aspect of the dentition, its relationship to the jaw joints, and the functional interactions of the masticatory muscles. A full-mouth reconstruction approaches the oral cavity truly holistically. It leads to a complete rehabilitation of the mouth.

Who are the patients needing a full-mouth reconstruction?

Patients requiring extensive restorative care frequently exhibit significant loss of tooth structure.

Severe wear mainly caused by - Parafunctional habits like grinding or clenching teeth / chewing pan or tobacco / Erosion, due to acidity, dry mouth.

Tooth loss - Extracted or missing teeth in the mouth can lead to excessive stress and wear of remaining teeth.

At Smile Care®, our team of doctors initiate the full mouth therapy with a thorough diagnosis of the cause of tooth wear with elimination of cause as a priority. The next step is to develop a treatment plan to restore patients chewing ability along with esthetics after discussing various treatment options with the patient.