Full mouth rehabilitation usually moves through five phases: records and diagnosis, treating pain, infection and gums, provisional teeth to test the new bite, definitive restorations made in stages, then review and maintenance. Depending on the case, the whole process often takes from a few months to a year or more, especially when implants are involved.
For what full mouth rehabilitation is and which treatments it combines, see our overview of full-mouth rehabilitation and the options for restoring many teeth.
Phase 1: first consultation, records and diagnosis
The dentist examines every tooth, the gums, the jaw joints and the way your upper and lower teeth meet, which is called the bite. X-rays, photographs and often impressions for study models are taken.
The models help plan the future shape and length of the teeth, sometimes with a trial version you can preview in your mouth, following the same logic as building a smile design plan. A second appointment usually presents the plan, its phases and the factors that affect the cost.
- Visits: usually one or two.
- Time: roughly one to three weeks to an agreed plan.
- Your part: bring a list of your medicines and any old X-rays, and decide what matters most to you: comfort, chewing, appearance or a slower pace.
Phase 2: treating pain, infection and the gums first
No lasting crown or bridge is built on an unhealthy foundation. This phase deals with toothache, abscesses, decay, teeth that cannot be kept and gum disease, through scaling and deep cleaning of the gums, fillings, root canal treatment and extractions as needed.
The work is done under local anaesthesia, an injection that numbs only the area treated, so it should not be painful; mild soreness for a few days is common. After gum treatment, the gums are usually re-checked several weeks later to confirm they have healed before moving on.
- Visits: from one to several.
- Time: often a few weeks, sometimes two to three months when gum healing must be confirmed.
- Your part: brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth, as the gums’ response partly depends on it. If you smoke, discuss cutting down: smoking slows gum healing.
Phase 3: provisional teeth and testing the new bite
The teeth that will receive crowns or bridges are prepared and covered with provisional (temporary) restorations made of resin; in some plans a temporary denture is fitted instead. Provisionals are a rehearsal: they let you and the dentist try the new length, shape and bite before anything permanent is made. Adjustments are easy now, and much harder later.
- Visits: one longer appointment, then short adjustment visits.
- Time: commonly a few weeks; sometimes a few months when the height of the bite is being changed.
- Your part: note anything that feels high, rough or tiring for the jaw, check your speech and smile in photos, and choose softer foods, since provisionals are weaker than final work.
Phase 4: definitive restorations, made in stages
Once the provisionals are comfortable and you like the look, the final restorations are made in a dental laboratory, copying what has been tested. Visits are grouped by area, for example the upper front teeth and then the back teeth, or one jaw and then the other, so the bite always keeps a stable reference.
Each group usually involves final preparation and impressions, one or two try-ins to check fit and colour, and a fitting visit. Our guide to zirconia crowns and the treatment step by step shows what a single stage involves.
- Visits: often two to four per group of teeth.
- Time: about two to four weeks per group, so several groups can add up to a few months.
- Your part: look after the remaining provisionals and attend every try-in, your chance to comment on colour and shape.
How implants, All-on-4 or dentures change the timeline
When teeth are replaced rather than restored, healing time becomes the main factor; the phases stay the same but some stretch out.
| Situation | What changes | Usual extra time |
|---|---|---|
| Individual implants | Placed during the foundation phase and left to bond with the bone before the final crowns. | Commonly about three to six months. |
| All-on-4 or All-on-6 (a fixed full-arch bridge on four or six implants) | When conditions allow, a fixed provisional bridge is often fitted soon after surgery; the final bridge follows healing. | Often several months. |
| Complete or partial dentures | After extractions, an immediate denture can be worn while the gums heal, then relined or remade. | Gums keep changing for several months. |
Our article on All-on-4 dental implants and a fixed full set of teeth explains the fixed pathway, and our guide to how complete dentures are made, fitted and cared for covers the removable one.
Phase 5: review and long-term maintenance
A review visit is usually arranged within the first weeks after fitting to check the bite, the gums, chewing and speech; small adjustments at that stage are normal. Patients who grind or clench their teeth are often given a night guard, a thin custom-made splint worn during sleep. Then come regular check-ups and cleanings, often every six months. Your part: clean under bridges and around implants with floss or interdental brushes, and get in touch early if anything chips or loosens.
What affects the timeline and the cost
The main factors are:
- The number of teeth to be restored or replaced.
- The health of the gums and how quickly they heal.
- Whether root canal treatment, extractions, implants or bone grafting are needed.
- How much the bite needs to change.
- Your availability, general health and preferred pace.
These factors also shape the cost, which can only be estimated after an examination. A phased plan can often be spread over time if its overall design is agreed from the start.
Full mouth rehabilitation step by step at Ajam Dental Clinic in Tripoli
At Ajam Dental Clinic, prosthodontic work, including crowns, bridges, dentures and full mouth rehabilitation, is handled by Dr. Abdel Rahman Ajam, who holds a DDS and an MSc in Aesthetic and Prosthetic Dentistry. Root canal treatment is carried out at the clinic by a visiting specialist endodontist, and the clinic also offers extractions and dental implants, including All-on-4 and All-on-6.
Read more about our prosthodontic treatments, from crowns and bridges to dentures. The clinic is on Fouad Chehab Boulevard, Al-Makateb Building, 1st Floor, and welcomes patients from across Tripoli (Zahriyeh, Al-Tall, Dam wa Farez, Azmi Street and Bahsas) as well as from Beddawi and the rest of North Lebanon. To begin with a first consultation, contact us by WhatsApp to book an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How many appointments does full mouth rehabilitation usually take?
There is no fixed number, because it depends on how many teeth are treated and which treatments are combined. Even a plan without implants usually involves a series of appointments spread over several weeks to a few months, and plans that include extractions, implants or gum treatment need more visits over a longer period. Some appointments are long, while others are short checks or adjustments. Once your plan is ready, the dentist can give you an estimated list of visits for each phase, so you can organise work and family commitments ahead of time.
Will I be left without teeth at any point during treatment?
In most plans, no. Dentists try to make sure that visible teeth are always replaced, at least temporarily. Prepared teeth are covered with provisional crowns or bridges on the same day, and when front teeth need to be extracted, a temporary denture or bridge can often be made in advance and fitted at the same appointment. There may be short periods with fewer back teeth while the gums heal, which mainly affects chewing rather than appearance. If this worries you, mention it during planning so the order of treatment can take it into account.
Can I take a break between phases, for example if I live abroad?
Often yes, but the timing of the break matters. Pauses are easiest after the foundation phase, once pain, infection and gum disease are under control, or after one group of final restorations has been completed. Long breaks in the middle of the provisional phase are less advisable, because temporary restorations are not designed to last many months and can chip, loosen or allow decay to start underneath. If you are only in Lebanon at certain times of the year, tell the dentist at the start so that visits can be grouped, where possible, into those periods.
What should I do if a temporary crown comes off or breaks?
Keep the temporary crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side and contact the clinic as soon as you can so it can be re-cemented or replaced. A prepared tooth left uncovered for a long time can become sensitive, may shift slightly and can make the final crown harder to fit. In the meantime, keep the area clean with gentle brushing, and do not try to glue the crown back with household glue. A loose temporary is a common and usually minor event, and it is one reason the provisional phase is kept no longer than the plan requires.
Why wait before making the final teeth if the temporaries already feel fine?
Feeling fine in the first days is a good sign, but the jaw muscles, joints and gums need time to show how they respond to a new bite. Some issues, such as jaw tiredness, one tooth hitting first or slight changes in the gums, only appear after a few weeks of normal eating and sleeping. Waiting allows these points to be corrected in the provisional teeth, which is simple, rather than in the final crowns, which is much more difficult. How long the wait lasts depends mainly on how much your bite has been changed.
Can I still change the shape or colour of my teeth once the plan is agreed?
Yes, within reason, and the best moments to do so are the provisional phase and the try-in visits. Provisional restorations can be reshaped, lengthened or shortened, and the shade of the final restorations is checked at try-in before they are completed. Once final crowns or bridges are cemented, changing them usually means remaking them. That is why it helps to look at your provisionals carefully in daylight, take photos and ask someone you trust for an honest opinion. Your comments are an expected part of the process, not an inconvenience.
Have a question about your teeth?
Send a WhatsApp message to Dr. Abdel Rahman Ajam or Dr. Soumaya Ajam, or call the clinic to book a consultation.
This article provides general information for patients. It does not replace an examination by a dentist, who can advise you on your own situation.
