Restorative · Since 1987
Full Mouth Rehabilitation in Wilmington, NC
Full mouth rehabilitation rebuilds a worn, broken down or collapsed bite. It is the largest thing we do and it is sequenced over months, sometimes over a year.
About full mouth rehabilitation
Patients arrive here after years of piecemeal repair: a crown in 2011, an extraction in 2016, a partial that never fit. At some point treating one tooth at a time stops working, because the bite itself is the problem.
We start by establishing where the bite should be, then rebuild to that position with crowns, implants, and whatever else the case needs. Planning takes weeks. Getting it right at that stage is what makes the result last.
How it works
- Comprehensive recordsPhotographs, scans, mounted models and a joint assessment.
- Diagnostic wax-upThe proposed end result is built in wax before any treatment starts.
- Provisional phaseYou wear the new bite in temporary form, often for months, and we adjust it.
- Definitive restorationBuilt to the position proved out in the provisionals.
- MaintenanceA protective guard and a tighter recall interval.
Recovery and aftercare
You will wear a protective night guard indefinitely. Hygiene visits move to a three or four month interval. Treated properly, this work lasts decades. Neglected, it does not.
Cost and coverage
Full mouth rehabilitation is a substantial investment and we treat it that way. You get a written, phased plan with costs per phase, so it can be staged over time rather than committed to at once. We go through financing in detail at the planning appointment.
You may be a candidate if
- Teeth worn short across the whole arch
- Multiple missing and failing teeth at once
- A bite that has collapsed and changed your facial profile
- Chronic jaw pain alongside extensive wear
- Years of separate repairs that keep failing
Full Mouth Rehabilitation by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Carter Lee
Dr. Lee on fixing only what needs fixing, and what it is like to hand a patient the mirror after a smile transformation.
Questions we get asked
How long does the whole process take?
Commonly nine to eighteen months from records to final restorations, with most of that time spent in provisionals.
Can it be done in stages?
Yes, and we usually recommend it. The plan is written in phases with costs attached to each one.
Will I be without teeth at any point?
No. You are in provisional restorations throughout.
Why is the planning phase so long?
Because the bite position is the whole case. Proving it in provisionals before building the final work is what stops it failing in year three.
Is this the same as a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is cosmetic. Full mouth rehabilitation is structural, treats function and the joint, and usually includes the back teeth nobody sees.
Full Mouth Rehabilitation
You have probably been told several different things about this.
Bring the opinions you have already been given. We will look at your scan with you and say which parts we agree with.
- Three doctors, 50+ years of combined experience
- Implant surgery and restoration in one building
- Sedation available for longer appointments
- Written, phased treatment plans with costs attached
Worried it is too much work at your age? Health matters far more than the number, and we will tell you if we think a smaller plan serves you better.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
