Cosmetic Dentistry is to enhance the smile and make the teeth look esthetic. This can be done with several or multiple porcelain veneers, bonding, crowns, or whitening. With Functional Cosmetic Dentistry or Full Mouth Reconstruction usually more teeth are involved and the TMJ issues, jaw alignment, facial muscles, overbites, and underbites are all addressed. This even changes the shapes of ones face reducing the aged appearance. Additionally, facial asymmetry can most often be corrected as well.
It is important to realize that more than just the teeth needs to be looked at. The cranial facial system is not static. There is a reason that these bite issues happened in the first place. Why would anyone restore these cases to the same misaligned bite or bad bite that caused the problems? Airway and cervical issues also need to be addressed.
Patients frequently ask about the cost for treatment for full mouth reconstruction, which is more than for simply cosmetic dentistry as more teeth and factors are involved. The fees are higher should rightfully be so as there is so much more involved than just esthetics. With cosmetic dentistry the patients usually only want a better smile or are not aware of what can be accomplished with Functional Cosmetic Dentistry that is like a non-surgical facelift. Each case is different depending on the patients needs and degree of the problems.
Patients should also be aware and informed that there are however, many cases where the teeth are healthy and Jaw Development or Anterior Growth Guided Appliances can be used instead of Full Mouth Reconstruction.
If you have any questions regarding Non-surgical jaw correction or Full Mouth Reconstruction, please feel free to call our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, FIAPA.
