Full Mouth Reconstruction: The Broader Goal
Full mouth reconstruction is a general term for restoring the health and function of all or most of the teeth in your mouth — using whatever combination of treatments each individual tooth needs. Rather than replacing everything, full mouth reconstruction is often about preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. Depending on the condition of each tooth, it can involve:
- Crowns for teeth that are damaged but structurally sound
- Bridges to replace individual missing teeth while preserving neighboring teeth
- Implants for teeth that can't be saved
- A tailored combination of all of the above, planned tooth-by-tooth
In short: full mouth reconstruction restores your mouth using what can be saved, and replaces only what can't.
All-on-4: A Specific, Proven Technique
While full mouth reconstruction saves and restores your natural teeth, All-on-4 is used when most or all teeth in an arch are too damaged or infected to save. Instead of treating each tooth individually, All-on-4 removes what's failing and replaces the entire arch at once with a fixed, permanent prosthesis.
Rather than placing an individual implant for every missing tooth, All-on-4 anchors a full arch of replacement teeth to just 4 strategically placed, angled implants — positioned to maximize contact with your existing jawbone. That's what allows most patients to move forward even with bone loss, often without needing grafting first.
At Vista Dental Implants, Dr. Saleh performs the entire process himself:
- Removal of failing teeth that can no longer be saved
- Implant placement — 4-5 implants per arch, using CT-guided planning
- Same-day temporary teeth for most patients
- Osseointegration — 3-4 months of healing as your jawbone fuses with the implants
- Final zirconia arch — custom, permanent teeth built to last
Because it replaces a full arch at once rather than tooth-by-tooth, All-on-4 is often the more direct path when teeth are too far gone for reconstruction — but it's a bigger, more permanent step, which is why Dr. Saleh only recommends it when reconstruction isn't a viable option.
Which Approach Is Right for You?
The only way to know for certain is a consultation and CT scan with Dr. Saleh. Whether your case calls for All-on-4, All-on-6, or a customized full mouth reconstruction plan, you'll leave your consultation with a clear understanding of your options, your timeline, and your investment — no guesswork, no hidden fees.