Dental procedures of any kind can be intimidating and scary for many people. Dental anxiety is something that dentists and orthodontists see in patients regularly. It is so prevalent, in fact, that far too many people fail to see the dentist the recommended two times a year because they suffer from anxiety even at the thought of seeing the dentist.
When a person neglects their dental health in this way, the results are often more serious dental issues that must then be dealt with down the line. For instance, patients who don’t see the dentist regularly are more likely to experience tooth loss and decay from poor hygiene practices. If you have found yourself in this situation, you might be facing the prospect of a full mouth reconstruction.
The good news is that a full mouth reconstruction, or FMR, isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. While your particular situation will dictate exactly how much dental work you will need, there are a few facts about FMR procedures that might ease your mind.
1. Less Traumatic Than You Might Think
Many people who need FMR dental work won’t experience as much pain from the procedure as one might assume. In fact, the pain that you already feel from your decaying or missing teeth could potentially be far worse than the pain of your reconstruction procedures.
While there will be some pain and discomfort involved with your procedures, it might very well pale in comparison to that of living with the pain of your current dental state. Your full mouth reconstruction specialist will be able to give you the specifics about what you can expect, but generally speaking, your procedures will not be as traumatic as you would think.
2. It Will Likely Take Multiple Procedures
When you go in for FMR work, you will likely be looking at multiple visits involving several procedures. While this will naturally depend on the extent of the work that needs to be done, there is only so much a dentist will be able to do in one sitting.
One or more of these appointments at the beginning of your FMR journey will be more of a fact-finding appointment with your dentists where he or she will evaluate the different areas of your mouth and come up with a plan of treatment tailored to your needs. This will also involve any discussion around dental anxiety that you might have, so make sure to be as open as you can be with your dentist about such struggles.
3. There Are Many Reasons for Seeking FMR
The reasons that patients receive FMR are varied and range from the simple to the complex. Perhaps you are a textbook teeth-grinder and have worn down the crowns and structural integrity of your teeth over many years. This would make you a candidate for FMR. Other patients might suffer from tooth loss or decay as a result of a serious illness. This, too, is a common reason for seeking out FMR.
