Full-Mouth Reconstruction or Dentures? Answers in Bethlehem, PA

If your teeth are worn down, broken or held together by old dental work, you may be wondering whether it's time to give up on them and get dentures. It's one of the biggest decisions you can make about your smile, and the answer depends on what's still healthy underneath. This guide explains how full-mouth reconstruction and dentures compare, and how we help patients in Bethlehem, PA decide.

Can my teeth be saved, or do I need dentures?

Many teeth that look beyond repair can still be saved, and a thorough exam with x-rays is how you find out. If enough of your teeth and roots are healthy, full-mouth reconstruction rebuilds them; if they can't be saved, dentures or partials replace them.

Dr. Thomas R. Lambert's comprehensive exam includes a review of your dental and medical history, an oral cancer screening and any digital x-rays you need, all in one appointment. You leave with specific answers about your own teeth, and we take the time to talk through your concerns before anything happens. You can read more about our restorative dentistry in Bethlehem, PA.

What can full-mouth reconstruction fix?

Full-mouth reconstruction rebuilds the mouth tooth by tooth, giving each tooth the restoration it needs. It's often the answer for teeth that are badly worn, cracked or decayed, or covered in dental work that's failing.

• Crowns cover a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size and strength.
• Root canal treatment can save a natural tooth that might otherwise have to be removed.
• Bridges fill the space where a tooth is missing, anchored to the teeth on either side.
• Veneers finish the front teeth once the teeth and bite underneath are sound.

Dr. Lambert's own cases show what this looks like. One patient came to him unhappy with mismatched teeth, old crown and bridge work and a bite that didn't work. He worked through her mouth section by section, treating the abscessed teeth, replacing the failing bridges and finishing with veneers on the front teeth. What mattered most to her in the end was being able to chew food again.

Another patient who had her whole mouth restored here described it in her video testimonial: about a year of regular visits, starting with the most urgent problems first. As she put it, "he had a method to it."

When are dentures the better choice?

Dentures make sense when teeth can't be saved. Dentures can replace all of the teeth in an arch or just some of them as a partial, and it takes some time to get used to wearing them.

We make dentures and partials here. Dr. Lambert also designs and delivers the teeth for implant dentures, while his oral surgery team places the implants themselves. For many patients, a removable denture that snaps onto implants is, in Dr. Lambert's words, "a nice viable option." The right answer can be different for each tooth, which is why the exam always comes first.

Why do Bethlehem, PA patients choose Dr. Lambert for full-mouth reconstruction?

Patients choose Dr. Lambert because he plans a full-mouth case one tooth at a time, so every tooth gets the attention it needs. Dr. Lambert says, "I don't treat it as a whole mouth. I treat a whole mouth as this is an individual crown, individual crown, and if you do enough, you're going to get the whole mouth done."

That approach has a practical side. One patient moved away partway through his treatment here and came back about two years later with a full mouth of temporary crowns, a year into treatment elsewhere that still hadn't reached the final crowns. Dr. Lambert explains why he works in sections: "when you take impressions of 32 teeth, impressions don't work. I can't even do that." He remade the temporaries, took impressions in sections and finished the case.

Dr. Lambert holds a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, and our Bethlehem dental office has cared for local families since 1988. He wants you to understand every step of your plan. In his words, "I don't sell dentistry. I educate the patient. I think there's nothing stronger than an educated patient."

Frequently Asked Questions

Is full-mouth reconstruction done all at once?

Dr. Lambert plans it one tooth at a time, starting with the most urgent problems, so the work is spread over a series of visits.

Will I need a root canal?

Only if a tooth needs one. Root canal treatment can save a natural tooth that might otherwise have to be removed, and Dr. Lambert does root canals here.

Does Dr. Lambert place dental implants?

His oral surgery team places the implants, and Dr. Lambert designs and delivers the teeth that go on them.

How do I find out whether my teeth can be saved?

Start with a comprehensive exam and x-rays. You'll leave with specific answers about your own teeth and time to ask every question you have.

Not sure whether to save your teeth or replace them? Call us at (610) 868-9928 or contact our Bethlehem dental office to schedule your exam with Dr. Lambert.

Published by Always About Smiles (Dr. Thomas R. Lambert).