Full-Mouth Reconstruction in Bethlehem, PA

Rebuilding your smile in the order that protects it, at a pace that suits you.

Full-mouth reconstruction rebuilds the teeth, gums and bite together rather than one tooth at a time. At Always About Smiles, our Bethlehem, PA dental office, I plan the work in five stages — a healthy foundation first, then decay, then the bite, then the rebuilt teeth, then anything cosmetic — so each stage supports the next.

Doing only what your smile needs

Having a healthy smile is easier than you can imagine. With a properly sequenced treatment, there is no reason you cannot have the smile of your dreams; one that looks fantastic, feels wonderful and is made to last. And the great part is that "comprehensive" does not have to mean expensive or "extravagant". In fact, the healthiest thing we can do is the least amount of dental work possible.

Comprehensive Conservative Care, explained

This approach is what I call Comprehensive Conservative Care. It is comprehensive because all of our treatment includes a detailed look at what is needed to maintain your oral health, and it is minimal because we only do what is absolutely necessary to achieve your personal goals. The goal of all treatment is to bring the patient to an optimal state of oral health and functionality that can be maintained for life.

What to expect in the process

A true smile, one that lasts a lifetime, is based on a foundation of healthy bone, gums and teeth. For this reason, I always establish a patient's initial dental health prior to performing any cosmetic or reconstructive work. Over my many years in practice, I have found that the following process leads to the best long-term results while avoiding painful and ill-timed emergencies. While not all patients require all stages, the basic process remains the same.

What is a full-mouth reconstruction?

A full-mouth reconstruction is a planned rebuild of all the teeth, gums and bite together, in stages, rather than a series of separate repairs. The key is to take a comprehensive balanced "whole mouth" approach that takes into account the health of the teeth, gums, and bite, as well as your general health.

How much does a full-mouth reconstruction cost in Bethlehem, PA?

A full-mouth reconstruction is priced stage by stage rather than as one number, and you see the whole sequence with a figure against each part before anything starts. Comprehensive does not have to mean expensive — in fact, the healthiest thing we can do is the least amount of dental work possible. Financing is available, and Patient Loyalty Program members take 15% off all treatment.

How long does a full-mouth reconstruction take?

It depends on how many stages your mouth needs, and it's usually months rather than weeks. While not all patients require all stages, the basic process remains the same, and I'd rather take the stages in the right order than compress them. You'll have the sequence and the timing in writing before we begin.

What do you do to keep a long course of treatment comfortable?

Comfort is handled appointment by appointment, and none of it is left to chance. A super numbing gel goes on before any anesthetic, and I buffer the anesthetic chair-side, which brings it closer to your body's own neutral pH and makes the numbness more rapid and profound for your comfort. Nitrous oxide, a mild sedative, neck pillows and warm blankets are all on the comfort menu.

How long does a full-mouth reconstruction last?

The goal of all treatment is to bring the patient to an optimal state of oral health and functionality that can be maintained for life. Porcelain crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays carry a five-year warranty against fracture with normal use under our Peace of Mind Limited Dental Warranty, when you follow our recommendations for care, cleanings, and treatment.

Am I a candidate if my teeth have been worked on many times already?

Very likely yes — that's much of what I do. If you think you have a difficult case, or want to correct aging, failed, or painful dental work or if you just want a second opinion you can trust, we can help you. I work in collaboration with knowledgeable and skilled specialists and dental laboratories on the hardest cases.

Eat and Smile With Ease

  • The order of the work is settled first — foundation, decay, bite, new teeth, then anything cosmetic — so nothing has to be rebuilt twice
  • Comprehensive doesn't have to mean expensive; the healthiest thing we can do is the least amount of dental work possible
  • Each stage is quoted separately, so you can see where you are and what comes next before you commit to it
  • In the same Bethlehem office since 1988, and a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, a credential held by about 2% of dentists nationwide

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I have to do all of it at once?

    No. The stages are designed to be taken in order, not in one go, and plenty of patients spread them over a year or more. If something requires urgent attention, you will get an honest recommendation and plan to keep that problem from getting more complex with increased cost if treatment is delayed. What matters is the order, because starting with the foundation means the later work isn't undone. We'll set a pace that fits your year and your pocketbook.

  • What if I've had dental work fail before?

    Then bring the history with you, because it changes the plan. Work that fails usually fails for a reason you can find — an unbalanced bite, a foundation that was never settled, one tooth carrying more load than it should. I'd rather find that reason first than replace the same crown twice.

  • Will my smile still look like mine?

    Yes. That's the point of designing the finished result before the work starts. I look at your face, your lip line and how much tooth shows when you talk, and I keep the character of your own smile rather than replacing it with something off the shelf. Of course, your requests for enhancements to your new smile are always welcome!

  • Is a full-mouth reconstruction the same as a smile makeover?

    They overlap, but they start in different places. A reconstruction is about function first — the bite, the foundation, teeth that work — with the cosmetic stage last. A smile makeover starts from how you'd like your smile to look. Many patients end up with both, in that order.

  • What happens at the first appointment?

    A full examination, x-rays, photographs and impressions, and a long conversation about what you want out of your teeth. I don't start treatment that day. You leave with the sequence, the stages and the figures, and you decide from there.