Billy* knows that he should have done more to take care of his teeth.
He should have brushed and flossed more often. He should have quit smoking sooner (or better yet, never started).
When he noticed a problem, he should have gone to the dentist to have it treated instead of hoping it would go away.
Now, Billy is missing several teeth, and he knows more are at risk.
And … he’s a little embarrassed by what has happened. He is starting to make excuses to avoid going out in public with his friends and family. He even turned down a chance to attend the Cats home opener because he is worried about strangers seeing his teeth.
He wants help. He wants his smile back.
What he wants is full-mouth reconstruction, and he can get it at any Beaumont Family Dentistry location in Lexington, KY.
* Billy is not a real patient, although he may share some similarities with real people.
What Billy Can Expect
If Billy or someone with similar issues did call us, he should know that our staff is not judging him on the condition of his teeth.
We are here to help anyone who comes through our office. It doesn’t matter if your teeth are perfect, or you are all your teeth have fallen out. We want to do whatever we can to help you regain your smile, your ability to chew the foods that you love, and your quality of life.
His initial visit will include a consultation with one of our dentists. This is a good time to discuss the specific issues that Billy is having.
This may include the difficulties he has eating certain foods, any pains he may be feeling in his mouth, and the ways losing his teeth has affected him emotionally.
During this visit, we may examine Billy’s teeth to see which are healthy and which may need to be removed. His dentist may take X-rays as well, so we can see if there are any issues that we can see with our eyes alone either with his teeth of bones that support his teeth.
Developing A Treatment Plan For Billy
Once we have a better understanding of Billy’s specific situation, we can discuss which services may be able to help him.
Since Billy is a hypothetical patient, let’s assume he has a mix of issues.
Some of his teeth are relatively healthy. Some of his teeth will need to be removed, and some of his teeth have already fallen out.
Billy may have gum disease that needs to be treated as well.
Full-mouth reconstruction can include everything from tooth extractions to dental implant placements to dental crowns, bridges or dentures.
Each patient’s needs are different, and we will do our best to address every person’s individual issues.
Following Through
Once we have developed a plan for Billy, it’s a matter of following through. That means Billy needs to make and keep his appointments.
Full-mouth reconstruction can involve multiple treatments, which may mean multiple appointments.
As an example, the first thing we may do is treat his gum disease. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States, and treating this may help to save the remaining healthy teeth that he does have.
The teeth that are too damaged to be saved may need to be extracted. This is not something we like to do unless it’s necessary for a patient’s overall oral health.
In Billy’s case, we are assuming multiple teeth will need to be removed.
More than likely, we would suggest dental implants as part of his teeth replacement. Implants take the place of the roots of his missing teeth. Implants will provide support, stability, and strength for whatever placements he gets for the crowns of his missing teeth.
Billy may get a dental bridge to fill out the rest of one row of teeth, and he may receive implant-supported dentures to replace an entire row of teeth.
The materials used to make modern bridges and dentures look natural, and the implants will allow them to function more like real teeth, tooth.
When Billy is finished, his smile will look complete, and he will be able to eat his favorite foods again.
And more importantly, he will feel comfortable the next time he is invited to go watch the Cats play.
Can You Relate To Billy’s Story?
If you or someone you know could benefit from full-mouth reconstruction, we encourage you to contact any of our dentist offices in Lexington, KY. Our dentists look forward to helping people feel better about their teeth.
Call the nearest Beaumont Family Dentistry office or click on the name of that office under the “Contact Us” tab to make an appointment with our online form.