La Crosse
3143 State Road Suite 100, La Crosse, WI 54601
If eating has become a careful negotiation, or you have several worn, broken, or missing teeth and no clear sense of where to start, you are not alone. Many adults across Wisconsin's Coulee Region come to us after years of patching one problem at a time. At Rivertown Dental, with offices in La Crosse, Holmen, Arcadia and Viroqua, we help patients step back, look at the whole mouth, and build one coordinated plan to restore how their teeth work and look.
Full mouth reconstruction is a planned combination of restorative treatments that rebuilds most or all of the teeth in the upper and lower jaws. It is not a single procedure. It is a roadmap that might bring together crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, root canal therapy, gum disease treatment, extractions and dental implants, sequenced so that each step supports the next.
It can help adults in a wide range of situations. Some have teeth worn down from years of grinding. Others have a mix of old fillings, cracked teeth and gaps. Some have lost teeth to decay or gum disease, and some are dealing with jaw discomfort tied to how their teeth come together. Common starting points include:
- Multiple broken, cracked, or heavily filled teeth
- Missing teeth in one or both arches
- Teeth worn short from clenching or grinding
- Gum disease that needs to be stabilized before restoration
- Bite problems linked to TMJ discomfort
The first thing to know is that there is no judgment here about how long it has been since your last visit. Your first appointment starts with a thorough dental exam, digital X-rays, an oral cancer screening and an honest conversation about what bothers you most, whether that is pain, chewing, appearance or all three.
From there, our dentists look at the health of your gums, the condition of each tooth, your bite and your jaw joints. If gum disease is present, we usually treat it first with scaling and root planing, because new restorations need a healthy foundation. We then explain your options in plain language, including which teeth can be saved and where replacement makes more sense, so you can make decisions with a clear picture.
How is full mouth reconstruction actually carried out?
Treatment is carried out in phases, in an order designed around your mouth rather than a fixed template. A typical plan moves from urgent needs to foundational work to final restorations. For one patient that may mean treating an infected molar with root canal therapy, then placing crowns and onlays. For another it may mean removing failing teeth and replacing them with dental implants or a fixed implant-supported bridge.
Because we keep advanced care local, most patients can complete their entire plan with us rather than being sent out of the area. We place and restore implants in-house, and patients who need a whole arch replaced can be seen at our Implant Clinic in Holmen for full arch dental implants. Our on-site dental lab and same-day CEREC crowns help us keep restorations moving efficiently.
Comfort matters through every phase. We offer nitrous oxide sedation and IV sedation for adults who feel anxious or who are having longer appointments. This is part of what we call The Ascent Experience: advanced care, genuine comfort, and a better experience from start to finish. That includes small touches like warm towelettes, blankets, headphones and essential oils.
What does aftercare look like once treatment is finished?
Aftercare focuses on protecting the work you have invested in through daily home care and regular professional visits. We walk you through how to brush and clean around crowns, bridges and implants, and our dental hygienists continue your care with cleanings or periodontal maintenance if you have a history of gum disease.
If your plan includes implants, we also provide ongoing implant maintenance. Patients who grind or clench may be fitted for a night mouth guard to help protect new restorations. How well restorations hold up depends on your home care, your habits and your follow-up visits, so we stay involved long after the final appointment.
How can I pay for full mouth reconstruction?
You can pay through dental insurance, self-pay, third-party financing, or one of our in-house membership plans. We work with many dental insurance plans; please call your office to confirm your coverage. Because reconstruction is often completed in phases, we can talk with you about how the timing of treatment fits your budget.
For patients who want to spread out costs, we offer financing through Cherry, CareCredit and Proceed Finance, subject to credit approval and the lender's terms. Patients without insurance can join the Rivertown Membership Plans, also called our VIP Program, with Classic, Deluxe and Kids options that include cleanings, exams, X-rays and fluoride plus a discount on treatment. Membership plans cannot be combined with insurance.
If you have been putting off care because the problem feels too big, we would be glad to help you take the first step. Call the Rivertown Dental office nearest you in La Crosse, Holmen, Arcadia or Viroqua to schedule an exam, and we will sit down with you to map out a plan that makes sense for your mouth and your life. Dentistry, Done Differently.
Questions
Full Mouth Reconstruction FAQs
How much does full mouth reconstruction cost, and will insurance help?
The cost of full mouth reconstruction depends on the treatments your plan includes, so we give you a clear estimate after your exam at our La Crosse, Holmen, Arcadia or Viroqua office. We work with many dental insurance plans; call your office to confirm your coverage, and we also offer the Rivertown Membership Plans for patients without insurance. Third-party financing through Cherry, CareCredit and Proceed Finance is available for those who qualify, subject to each lender's approval.
Will full mouth reconstruction hurt?
We do everything we can to keep you comfortable, including nitrous oxide and IV sedation for adults who want help relaxing during treatment. The Ascent Experience also includes small comforts like a warm towelette, blanket, support pillow, headphones and essential oils. Before each step, we explain what you can expect so there are no surprises.
How long does full mouth reconstruction take?
The timeline depends on your plan, because full mouth reconstruction can combine several treatments such as crowns, bridges, gum care, implants or extractions. Some patients finish in a few visits, while others move through treatment in planned stages. At your consultation, we walk you through the expected steps and timing for your situation.
Am I a candidate for full mouth reconstruction?
You may be a candidate if you have many worn, damaged, decayed or missing teeth, or if several dental problems are affecting how you eat, speak or smile. The best way to know is an exam with one of our dentists here in the Coulee Region, and you do not need a referral. We never judge how long it has been since your last visit; we simply help you understand your options.
What are the alternatives, and how long do the results last?
Depending on your needs, alternatives may include treating individual teeth with fillings, crowns or root canal therapy, replacing teeth with bridges or dental implants, or full arch dental implants through our Implant Clinic in Holmen. How long your results last depends on your oral health, home care and regular checkups, so we cannot promise a specific lifespan. Routine cleanings and exams with our team help protect your restorations over time.