Full-Mouth Reconstruction
Rebuilding a whole bite — without rushing the smile.
When years of wear, grinding, or old dentistry have broken down a bite, rebuilding it well starts with diagnosis — we get the foundation and the bite right before we touch the look.
Book a complimentary consult Call or text 754-240-4820
Complimentary consultation · English & Spanish · Saturday hours available
When a full-mouth rebuild makes sense
Years of grinding, acid wear, or old dentistry can break a bite down until fixing one tooth at a time stops working. A full-mouth rebuild is worth considering if:
- Your teeth are chipping, cracking, or getting visibly shorter.
- Many teeth carry old, failing fillings and crowns.
- Your bite feels off, or your jaw and facial muscles ache.
- You’ve lost the height and support that used to hold up your face and smile.
Most patients don’t need a full rebuild — and if a few targeted repairs will hold, that’s what we’ll recommend. This page is for the cases where the whole bite really does need to be planned as one.
A few repairs vs. a full rebuild — how we decide
| Targeted repairs | Full-mouth reconstruction | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | A few teeth | Most or all teeth, planned together |
| Best when | Damage is localized, bite is stable | Widespread wear, failing work, collapsed bite |
| Re-establishes the bite? | No — works within it | Yes — rebuilds it to a stable position |
| Planning | Tooth by tooth | Records, deprogramming, a full blueprint |
| Timeline | Short | Deliberately staged over months |
- Targeted repairs when the damage is localized and your bite is fundamentally sound (see restorative care).
- A full rebuild when wear, old work, or a collapsed bite affect the whole mouth and must be solved together.
- Deprogram and diagnose first in every full case — we never design to a bite we haven’t proven.
- Stage it so you test-drive the new bite before anything is permanent.
Why we don’t rush the smile
The temptation with a big case is to jump straight to veneers and crowns. We don’t — because the most common reason full-mouth work fails, breaks, or never feels right is that it was built to the wrong bite.
Your jaw muscles hold your bite in a position they’ve learned over years, and that learned position hides where your jaw actually wants to close. Before we rebuild anything, we deprogram those muscles with a small custom appliance so they relax and let go of that habit. Over days to a few weeks, that reveals your true, repeatable bite — the stable foundation everything else gets built on.
Only then do we design the new bite and the new smile — and you test-drive both in provisional teeth before anything permanent is made. Get the foundation right, take the time, and the result lasts. That is the whole philosophy: don’t rush the smile.
How the process works
- Records & diagnosis. Photos, 3D scans, mounted models, and an exam of your teeth, gums, muscles, and jaw joints — the full picture before any plan.
- Deprogramming. Finding your true, relaxed bite before we design a single tooth.
- The blueprint & test-drive. We design the bite and the smile, then you wear it in provisionals and approve how it works and how it looks.
- The final restorations. Built to the bite we proved — with Dr. Dillon’s Mastership (MAGD) and Kois Center training and Dr. Shantall’s cosmetic eye on every case.
It connects with our work in replacing missing teeth and smile design — and financing and our membership plan can help with the investment.
A note from Dr. Dillon
A full-mouth case is the one you cannot rush. If you build a new bite to where the muscles are ‘stuck’ instead of where the jaw truly closes, the work looks great for a while and then starts to chip, loosen, or ache.
So we deprogram first, prove the bite in provisionals you actually live with, and only finalize the smile once the foundation is stable. The smile is the last thing we lock in — not the first.
— Dr. Matthew Dillon, DDS, MAGD
Real results
Rebuilt bites, up close
Common misconceptions
- “It’s a smile makeover.” It’s function first — a stable bite that protects your teeth and joints. The beautiful smile sits on top of that.
- “Just give me veneers.” Veneers on the wrong bite chip and fail. We prove the bite first, then make it beautiful.
- “Everyone with worn teeth needs this.” Many need only targeted repairs. A full rebuild is for widespread breakdown.
- “It can be done in a couple of visits.” Done right, it’s staged over months — rushing it is how bites break.
Why patients choose MSD for full-mouth care
- Function before smile, with deprogramming and a proven bite before anything permanent.
- MAGD Mastership & Kois Center training (Dr. Dillon) plus Dr. Shantall’s cosmetic eye — two doctors on every case.
- A test-drive in provisionals, so you approve how it works and looks first.
- An itemized plan and financing, in English & Spanish, for patients across North Broward.
Sources & further reading
- American Dental Association — Dental Crowns — crowns used to rebuild worn teeth.
- American Dental Association — Missing Teeth — replacing teeth as part of reconstruction.
- American Dental Association — TMJ & Jaw — jaw-joint considerations in bite reconstruction.
Independent, authoritative references for the general topics on this page. See our editorial & clinical-review policy.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Medically reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Matthew Dillon, DDS, MAGD, FICOI · Updated July 2026 · Editorial policy.
What is a deprogrammer, and why do you use one?
It's a small custom appliance that relaxes the jaw muscles so they stop holding your bite in a learned position. That lets us record where your jaw truly wants to close — the foundation a full rebuild must be built on. Skipping this step is the most common reason big cases fail or feel off.
How long does full-mouth reconstruction take?
It varies with the case, but it's deliberately staged: records and deprogramming first, then a trial smile in provisionals you live with, then the final restorations. Months, not one appointment — because rushing it is how bites break.
Will I see the result before it's permanent?
Yes. We design your new bite and smile and you wear it in temporaries first — approving how it works and how it looks — before anything permanent is made.
Is full-mouth reconstruction just cosmetic?
No. It's function first — a stable, comfortable bite that protects your teeth and joints. The beautiful result sits on top of that; it isn't the starting point.
Does insurance cover full-mouth reconstruction?
Insurance sometimes contributes toward individual restorations within the plan. We verify your specific benefits and lay out the numbers before you commit.
How much does it cost?
It depends on how much needs rebuilding. Your consultation ends with an itemized plan, and financing and our in-house membership plan can help.
Do I need full-mouth reconstruction, or just a few crowns?
Many patients need only targeted repairs, and we'll say so. A full rebuild is for when wear, old failing work, or a collapsed bite affect many teeth together and need to be planned as one. We recommend the smaller path whenever it will actually hold.
What causes a bite to break down?
Usually years of grinding or clenching, acid wear from diet or reflux, and old dentistry that has worn or failed over time — often several of these together. We identify the causes so the rebuild addresses them, not just the symptoms.
Will it fix my jaw pain or TMJ symptoms?
A worn or collapsed bite can contribute to muscle soreness, and rebuilding to a stable bite often helps. Jaw-joint (TMJ) problems are complex, though, so we assess yours individually and are honest about what a rebuild can and can't do.
Does full-mouth reconstruction involve implants?
Sometimes — if teeth are missing or beyond saving, implants can be part of the plan. Other cases are rebuilt with crowns, onlays, and veneers on your own teeth. The plan is built around what your mouth actually needs.
Is it painful?
Each step is done comfortably, with the teeth numb when needed and sedation available. Because we prove the bite in provisionals first, most patients find the process smoother and less stressful than they expected.
¿Hablan español?
Sí. La Dra. Shantall y el Dr. Dillon planifican cada caso en inglés y español, y le muestran su nueva mordida en dientes provisionales antes de finalizar nada.
Rebuilt to last — because we take the time.
Start with a thorough diagnosis and an honest plan. Book a complimentary full-mouth consultation.
Book a complimentary consult Or call or text 754-240-4820