Have you been recommended to get dental reconstructive surgery but you’re unsure if it’s the right treatment for you? This blog will help you determine if it’s.
The way dentistry has improved in the last couple of decades is astonishing, to say the least. Today, we have treatments that not only address the functional issues that people commonly face but also work on the overall he alth and aesthetics of the mouth all at once. The prime example of such an all-encompassing treatment is dental reconstruction surgery. However, the treatment is not as widely understood (and utilised) as it should be, leaving a lot of patients the opportunity to transform their smiles.
In this blog, we’ll provide a complete guide to reconstructive dental surgery, including dental reconstructive surgery costs, so you may opt for the treatment with a clear conviction.
Starting From The Basics: What’s Dental Reconstructive Surgery?
Let’s build our basics first and define dental reconstructive surgery and how it differs from other treatments, which are often used synonymously but are actually not the same.
So, dental reconstructive surgery is a ‘surgical’ procedure (or a combination of multiple surgical procedures) that’s aimed to restore a person’s teeth, gums, jawbone or any other oral structure that requires fixing, and the end goal is to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the person’s smile.
Dental reconstructive surgery is often used synonymously with an equally popular term: ‘full mouth dental reconstruction‘. It’s important to note that the two terms are not exactly the same (but highly related, as the end goal of both is the same) – full mouth reconstruction is actually an extension of dental reconstructive surgery in which the ‘entire mouth’ is rehabilitated and reconstructed, using both surgical and non-surgical restorative.
In other words, dental reconstructive surgery can be a stand-alone treatment (in which only a specific area of the mouth is being focused on, and only surgical procedures are employed to fix the issues) – or it can be a part of a comprehensive treatment plan covering the entire mouth known as full mouth dental reconstruction (in which non-surgical treatments complement the surgical ones). However, the aim of both treatments is the same – to transform the mouth from a diseased and unsightly state to a he althy and visually appealing one.
What Sort Of Treatments Are Involved In Dental Reconstructive Surgery?
Now that you’re aware of what dental reconstructive surgery is and how it differs from other treatments with the same goals, it’s time to expand our clarity and see what dental reconstructive surgery actually includes and which people can benefit from it.
Suppose a person has experienced trauma to a specific part of his mouth (by falling head-on from a high distance or otherwise) or has some sort of congenital abnormality which has stunted the growth of oral structures in a particular mouth area.
In both the abovementioned cases, the person likely has no teeth and has unhe althy/injured gums and jawbone in ‘the specific area of the mouth’, which suffered the trauma/congenital defect. Hence, dental reconstructive surgery would be performed on the affected area to restore normal functionality and aesthetics in it. The treatment would include only surgical procedures, such as:
- Implants (to restore the missing teeth)
- Jaw surgery (to realign the jaw and teeth in case of trauma)
- Gum surgery (to repair damage to the gums)
- Gum and bone grafts (to give enough volume to the jawbone and gums to be able to support the implants effectively)
- TMJ surgery (the temporomandibular joint is affected)
Now, look at another completely different scenario. Suppose a person suffers from a variety of dental issues, including tooth loss, decayed teeth, occlusal issues (misaligned teeth or jaw), gum disease, jawbone loss, aesthetic issues (chips, cracks or stains in the teeth), etc. The entire mouth is in a state of unhe althiness and aesthetic decline. In this scenario, the treatment would rehabilitate the mouth as a whole and not a specific portion of it and would include several different procedures, such as:
- Restorative (implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures)
- Aesthetic (veneers)
- Orthodontics (aligners and jaw surgery)
- Preventive (scaling, root planing, periodontal surgery)
- Supportive (bone grafts, gum grafts)
How Much Does Dental Reconstructive Surgery Cost, And Is It Worth Getting?
Have you ever seen dental reconstructive surgery before and after pictures, where the difference is so mind-boggling that you can barely recognise that the before and after versions are of the same person? Yes, the results are that effective and impressive – but they require a lot of effort on the part of the surgeon (or the team of surgeons, depending on the extent and nature of surgeries being performed).
Needless to mention, they also require something from you – a financial investment. And it could actually be one of the wisest and worth making investments you’d ever make for your he alth, as it’ll give you a long-term solution to your debilitating and complex dental problems, promising you years of he althy chewing, speaking and eating (along with added attractiveness).
As for the measure of the investment, it totally depends on your individual case, the type of surgical procedures you require, and, of course, from where you get the treatment done. For instance, if you need only two dental implants coupled with a jaw/gum surgery, your treatment would be less expensive than if you needed four implants and the jaw/gum surgeries.
The cost of the treatment will be higher than what you’d expect from a non surgical treatment, and for the very logical reason that surgical procedures require more effort and expertise than nonsurgical ones. No matter the complexity of your dental issues, the lasting benefits of dental reconstructive surgery will make it all worth it.
Conclusion
Dental reconstructive surgery is a way of providing comprehensive rehabilitation to your teeth using surgical procedures (like implants, jaw surgery, gum surgery, etc). It tackles your dental issues from the core and provides long-term surgical solutions to them, taking your smile from a damaged state to a he althy one.
To learn more about Dental Reconstructive Surgery, schedule a FREE consultation with 3D Smile Clinic, a premium dental practice located in Texas. Have your dental issues evaluated by our team of experts and pave your way to a he althy and beautiful smile!
