Some of the procedures that are conducted during dental rehabilitation are bridges, veneers, implants and crowns. These processes should only be carried out by experienced general dentists in conjunction with – specialists in treating gums – orthodontists – specialists in tooth positioning and movements, and oral surgeons.

For you to undergo dental rehabilitation or jaw alignment, it must be as a result of the following:

• - Having fractured or injured teeth
• - Teeth loss as a result of trauma or decay
• - Severely worn teeth on account of acid erosion via beverages, foods, tooth grinding or acid reflux
• - Constant complaints of jaw pain or a headache which requires proper jaw alignment, i.e. occlusion

The process of full mouth rehabilitation begins with you visiting your dentist for a comprehensive dental examination. Your dentist is in the best position to determine whether or not you need to undergo dental rehabilitation after examining your mouth. The extent of damage to your teeth will be observed and multiple treatment options will be considered in order to fix your teeth.

The following are what your dentist will take a close look at:

Teeth – The current state of health your teeth are in. It will go a long way in determining the restorative procedures that will correct any anomaly in your mouth. Restorative procedures include onlays or inlays, full-coverage crowns or porcelain veneers, implants restored with a crown, and bridges. If you have any crack in your tooth, wear, decay, uneven teeth, etc. your dentist will take note of these problems.

Esthetics – the size, color, shape, and proportion of your teeth as well as how they appear in relation to your mouth, lips, gum, face and side profile are some of the factors that your dentist will take into consideration when determining whether you will undergo dental rehabilitation.

Occlusion, jaw Muscles, and Temporomandibular Joints – Your oral health is not complete if you are in pain whenever you chew or close your mouth because of the wear of your teeth. As your dentist makes plans for your restorative procedures, occlusion changes will be taken into consideration as well. If the jaw pain is severe, you may need to consult an orthodontist so that occlusion can be corrected before embarking on any other restorative processes.

Gum tissues – Root planning or scaling to treat periodontal disease may be the only procedures you need to undergo if your tooth gums are not healthy. In this case, a periodontist will take a closer look at your condition and recommend the best form of treatment which could be bone or soft tissue grafts to build up your underlying jaw bone and gums.

The examination procedure requires photographs or X-rays of your mouth, impressions of your teeth, models of your teeth bite, etc. After the examination, your dentist creates a step-by-step treatment plan to fix all the issues in your mouth. 

Your dentist – along with any other team of specialists – is responsible for your dental rehabilitation or jaw alignment. Most treatments may take up to 12 months or more, depending on how severe the condition is.