Full-Mouth Rehabilitation: A Staged Approach to Treating the Worn Dentition
Full-mouth rehabilitation of the worn dentition presents the clinician with many challenges and potential pitfalls. A systematic approach to diagnosis, treatment planning, and risk management is crucial for a predictable outcome. A staged approach to restoring the worn dentition provides the clinician opportunity to evaluate how a patient will respond to occlusal and esthetic changes. In this case, a 61-year-old retired engineer presented with concerns about the wear on his teeth (Figure 1). The case demonstrates the benefits of a staged approach and describes the successful alteration of the initial treatment plan when changes were necessary to better manage risk.
When presented with a full-mouth rehabilitation of a worn dentition, a staged approach to restoration offers the clinician the chance to assess how a patient will respond to occlusal and esthetic changes. In this case involving an older patient who was concerned about wear on his teeth, a systematic, step-by-step process was employed to develop a comprehensive and specific treatment plan that would achieve all treatment goals. The patient’s severely worn dentition was restored, and a stable, comfortable occlusion was achieved, with care taken to minimize biomechanical risk.