Full Mouth Reconstruction in Pottsville, PA
When several teeth need attention at once, we plan the work together instead of one appointment at a time. Dr. Scott Fellows walks you through what’s worn down, what’s missing, and what we’d fix first, all in the same building on West End Avenue.
Planning a Full Mouth Reconstruction in Pottsville PA
Full mouth reconstruction in Pottsville PA is a way of describing a treatment plan that addresses most or all of your teeth in a coordinated sequence. It isn’t a single procedure. It’s a map of several procedures, scheduled in the right order, so the work fits together at the end. Some patients come to us after years of patching things one tooth at a time. Others have lost teeth, ground them down, or had old crowns and fillings finally give out at roughly the same time.
The goal is straightforward: get your bite working again, replace what’s missing, and make the visible teeth look natural alongside the restorative work. We do this under one roof on purpose. Cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, implants, and dentures all happen in the same office, so you aren’t bouncing between specialists in different towns while your treatment is in progress.
Before any drills or impressions, you and Dr. Fellows sit down and look at your X-rays together. We use the Overjet Iris system with our digital X-rays and intraoral cameras to show you what’s happening on the screen, tooth by tooth. You’ll see what needs to be done now, what can wait, and what we’d recommend in what order. No surprises later.
What a Full Mouth Reconstruction Actually Involves
A reconstruction is built from procedures you may already recognize. Crowns and bridges to rebuild worn or broken teeth. Root canal therapy when a tooth’s nerve is involved. Tooth extractions for teeth that can’t be saved. Dental implants or dentures to replace what’s missing. Gum treatment if periodontal disease has been part of the picture. Fillings and a thorough cleaning early on to stabilize things before the bigger work starts.
What makes it a reconstruction rather than a list of separate appointments is the sequencing. We plan the order so each step supports the next. Periodontal health is usually addressed first. Extractions and bone grafting come before implants. Temporary crowns hold the bite while final restorations are made. Cosmetic work on the front teeth is often timed near the end, once the back-tooth foundation is solid.
Most reconstructions take several months from start to finish. That’s normal. Bone needs time to heal around implants. Gums need time to settle. We tell you up front roughly how long each phase will take and when you’ll be between temporary and final restorations, so you can plan around weddings, holidays, or anything else on your calendar.
Who Tends to Need Full Mouth Reconstruction
Patients who come in for this kind of plan usually fall into a few groups. Some have advanced wear from years of grinding, and the back teeth have flattened to the point that the bite has collapsed. Others have lost several teeth over time and have been getting by with a partial denture that no longer fits well. A few have had a single accident, a fall or a sports injury, that damaged multiple front teeth at once.
We also see patients who haven’t been to a dentist in a long time, sometimes ten or fifteen years, and are ready to deal with everything in one organized plan rather than chasing problems as they flare up. There’s no judgment in that conversation. Dr. Fellows is matter-of-fact about where things stand and practical about where to start.
Not everyone who asks about reconstruction needs the full scope of it. Sometimes the right answer is a smaller set of crowns and bridges, or a few implants paired with the teeth you already have. Part of the consultation is figuring out the smallest version of the plan that actually solves the problem. We’re not going to recommend work you don’t need.
What's Included When We Build Your Reconstruction Plan
Your first visit is a long appointment by design. We take a full set of digital X-rays, photos with the intraoral camera, and a careful look at your bite, gums, and existing dental work. The Overjet Iris system helps us flag decay and bone loss that’s easy to miss on a quick exam, and we’ll show you what it finds on the monitor right there in the room.
From there, Dr. Fellows puts together a written plan with the procedures listed in order, the rough timeline, and what each phase costs. You’ll see what your PPO dental insurance is likely to cover and what would be out of pocket. We file the claims for you, and if a procedure has a less expensive alternative that would also work, we tell you that too.
Because we offer family dentistry, restorative dentistry, oral surgery, and periodontics in the same office, you aren’t being handed off mid-treatment. The same team that pulled the tooth places the implant. The same hygienist who knows your history sees you for follow-up cleanings. If something hurts in the middle of the plan, you call the office you already know.
Insurance and Payment for a Reconstruction
We accept all PPO dental insurance plans and file the claims on your behalf. Most reconstructions involve a mix of procedures, and your plan will cover some at higher percentages than others. Cleanings, fillings, and basic extractions are usually covered well. Crowns, implants, and cosmetic work vary more by plan. Before any major work begins, we submit pre-authorizations so you know in writing what your insurance has agreed to cover.
Because the work is spread across several months, the cost is rarely paid all at once. We sequence procedures across plan years when it makes sense, so you get the benefit of two annual maximums instead of one. For patients without coverage, or for the portion insurance doesn’t pay, we offer flexible payment options and will sit down to map out a plan that fits your month, not just your mouth.
We don’t quote a single reconstruction price because no two plans are the same. After the consultation you’ll have a written estimate for each phase, and we’ll walk through it together before you commit to anything.
Why a Coordinated Reconstruction Beats Patching
When teeth are repaired one emergency at a time, the work doesn’t always fit together. A crown placed years ago may not match a new implant next to it. A bite that was fine with one missing tooth becomes uneven once a second is lost. Patching has its place, but at a certain point a planned reconstruction costs less in the long run because each piece is designed to work with the next.
Patients usually notice three things once everything is finished. Chewing is easier, and they stop avoiding certain foods. The jaw feels more settled, especially in the morning. And the front teeth look like teeth again, not like a row of mismatched repairs from different decades. Outcomes vary based on bone health, hygiene, and how well the restorations are maintained, but with regular cleanings and good home care, this kind of work is built to last for many years.
If you’ve been thinking about getting everything addressed but didn’t know where to start, the consultation is the start. You leave with a plan on paper, not a sales pitch.
Come in for a Reconstruction Consultation
Bring your questions and any past dental records you have. We’ll take the X-rays, walk through what’s going on, and put together a written plan you can take home and think about. Call Fellows & Smink Dental Associates in Pottsville to schedule.