Comprehensive smile rehabilitation by three specialists under one roof: periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn, prosthodontist Dr. Lu, and cosmetic dentist Dr. Yuliya Filipenka. From implants and bone grafting to crowns, bridges, and aesthetic refinement. Located in Costa Mesa, just 15 minutes from Huntington Beach.
Full mouth reconstruction is a comprehensive treatment approach that rebuilds or restores all of the teeth in both the upper and lower jaws simultaneously. Unlike a simple cosmetic smile makeover that focuses on the appearance of healthy teeth, full mouth reconstruction addresses the underlying structural, functional, and health problems that have compromised the entire dentition. It is designed for patients whose dental problems are too extensive or interconnected to be solved with isolated procedures, and it requires the coordinated expertise of multiple dental disciplines working together toward a unified treatment goal.
Patients who need full mouth reconstruction often present with a combination of problems that have developed and worsened over many years. These may include multiple missing teeth, severely worn or fractured teeth from grinding or clenching, advanced periodontal disease with bone loss, failing crowns and bridges that are decades old, bite collapse from loss of vertical dimension, or a history of dental neglect that has resulted in widespread decay and infection. In many cases, these problems are interrelated: periodontal disease leads to bone loss, which leads to tooth loss, which leads to shifting of remaining teeth, which leads to bite problems, which leads to further wear and fracture. Addressing any one problem in isolation fails because the underlying cascade of issues remains unresolved.
A successful full mouth reconstruction requires treating the mouth as a complete system rather than a collection of individual teeth. The gums and bone must be healthy before implants can be placed. Implants must be positioned precisely so that the prosthodontist can design restorations that function properly and look natural. Remaining teeth may need orthodontic repositioning before crowns or bridges can achieve an ideal bite. Every decision in the treatment plan affects every other decision, which is why this level of care demands a team of specialists working in close collaboration.
At most dental practices, a single general dentist handles every aspect of a complex reconstruction. While general dentists are well trained in routine care, full mouth reconstruction requires advanced skills across three distinct disciplines: periodontal surgery, prosthodontic design, and cosmetic alignment. Each of these fields involves years of postgraduate specialty training that goes far beyond what dental school provides. At The Loft Dental Studio, Huntington Beach area patients benefit from a tri-specialist team where each phase of treatment is performed by a doctor whose entire career is dedicated to that discipline.
Dr. Ahn is a Yale-trained, board-certified periodontist who serves as the surgical foundation of the team. He manages all gum and bone health, treats periodontal disease, performs bone grafting and soft tissue procedures, and places all dental implants. With over 5,000 implants placed throughout his career, Dr. Ahn brings a level of surgical experience and precision that directly impacts the long-term success of every implant and the stability of the entire reconstruction. His expertise in bone biology means that even patients who have been told they lack sufficient bone for implants often have options they were not previously aware of.
Dr. Lu is a board-certified prosthodontist who specializes in the design, fabrication, and fitting of all prosthetic restorations. Prosthodontics is a recognized dental specialty focused on the replacement and restoration of teeth, and board certification represents the highest level of demonstrated competence in this field. Dr. Lu designs every crown, bridge, veneer, and full-arch prosthesis in the reconstruction, ensuring that each restoration achieves optimal bite function, natural aesthetics, and long-term durability. His specialty training in occlusion (the science of how teeth come together) is critical for patients whose bite has collapsed or shifted due to years of tooth loss and wear.
Dr. Filipenka brings orthodontic training and cosmetic expertise to the team. When remaining teeth need repositioning before final restorations can be placed, Dr. Filipenka provides orthodontic alignment to create the ideal foundation for crowns, bridges, or veneers. Her cosmetic eye ensures that the final result is not only functionally sound but also aesthetically harmonious, with natural tooth proportions, symmetrical gum lines, and a smile that complements each patient's facial features.
Why One Roof Matters: When specialists work in separate offices, treatment plans are often created independently and then awkwardly merged, leading to compromises, delays, and miscommunication. At The Loft Dental Studio, Dr. Ahn, Dr. Lu, and Dr. Filipenka plan and execute every case together. They review imaging, discuss options, and agree on the treatment sequence as a team before a single procedure begins. This integrated approach eliminates the referral delays, conflicting opinions, and coordination failures that plague multi-office reconstruction cases.
Full mouth reconstruction is not a single procedure but a customized combination of treatments tailored to each patient's specific problems. The following situations commonly require a comprehensive reconstruction approach.
Every full mouth reconstruction at The Loft Dental Studio begins with a comprehensive evaluation that goes far beyond a standard dental exam. This planning phase is the most important step in the entire process because every surgical and restorative decision depends on the accuracy and thoroughness of the initial assessment.
Dr. Ahn performs a complete periodontal evaluation, including probing depths around every tooth, assessment of gum recession and tissue health, and evaluation of tooth mobility. Digital X-rays and CBCT 3D imaging provide detailed views of bone levels, root anatomy, sinus proximity, nerve location, and any hidden pathology. Digital impressions capture the exact geometry of the teeth and bite, and clinical photographs document the current condition from every angle.
Using the diagnostic data, the team designs the ideal final result before any treatment begins. This digital planning process maps out where implants will be placed, what shape and size the final restorations will be, how the bite will be rebuilt, and what the finished smile will look like. Patients can see a preview of their projected outcome, which helps in understanding the treatment goals and making informed decisions.
Dr. Ahn, Dr. Lu, and Dr. Filipenka review all diagnostic information together and develop a unified treatment plan. This collaborative session determines the sequence of procedures, the timeline for each phase, the type of restorations that will be used, and how the specialists will coordinate their work. The result is a detailed, phased treatment plan that the patient reviews and approves before treatment begins.
The reason full mouth reconstructions fail at other practices is almost never a surgical error or a bad crown. It is a planning failure. When a general dentist places an implant without knowing exactly what restoration the prosthodontist will build on top of it, the implant angle or position may be slightly off, and that small error cascades through the entire case. When we plan together from the beginning, every implant is placed in precisely the position that Dr. Lu needs for the ideal restoration, and every restoration is designed to work within the biological and structural parameters that I establish surgically. The planning is the treatment.
Before any restorative work begins, active gum disease must be brought under control. This may include scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), LANAP laser treatment for advanced periodontitis, gum grafting to restore tissue around exposed roots, and bone grafting to rebuild areas of bone loss. Dr. Ahn manages all periodontal treatment to ensure a healthy, stable foundation for the reconstruction.
Missing teeth are replaced with dental implants placed by Dr. Ahn. Implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone that serve as artificial tooth roots. Once integrated with the bone (a process called osseointegration that takes 3 to 6 months), implants provide a permanent, stable foundation for crowns, bridges, or full-arch prosthetics. Dr. Ahn's experience with over 5,000 implants ensures precise placement that optimizes both function and aesthetics.
Dr. Lu designs and fabricates all crowns and bridges in the reconstruction. Crowns restore individual damaged teeth to their proper form and function, while bridges span gaps where teeth are missing. In a full mouth reconstruction, these restorations are planned as a coordinated system rather than individual units, ensuring that the bite aligns properly, the forces are distributed evenly, and the aesthetics are consistent across the entire smile.
When remaining teeth have shifted, tilted, or drifted due to missing adjacent teeth, orthodontic treatment by Dr. Filipenka may be needed to reposition them before final restorations are placed. Moving teeth into their ideal positions before crowning them produces better-fitting restorations, a more natural bite, and improved long-term stability.
Throughout the reconstruction process, temporary crowns, bridges, and prosthetics are provided so that patients are never without functional or presentable teeth. These provisional restorations allow patients to eat, speak, and smile comfortably during the months of treatment. They also serve as a test run for the final restorations, allowing the team to evaluate aesthetics, bite function, and comfort before fabricating the permanent prosthetics.
Full mouth reconstruction is delivered in carefully sequenced phases. Each phase builds on the previous one, and the team confirms that healing and outcomes are on track before advancing to the next step.
The total timeline for full mouth reconstruction typically ranges from 6 to 18 months depending on complexity. Cases requiring extensive bone grafting, multiple implant sites, or orthodontic alignment will be on the longer end. Simpler cases involving fewer implants and primarily restorative work may be completed in 6 to 9 months.
Our tri-specialist team provides comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans for patients seeking full mouth reconstruction. Every case begins with a thorough assessment of your oral health, goals, and options.
Call (714) 549-7030Full mouth reconstruction costs vary widely based on the number and type of procedures involved. Because each case is unique, The Loft Dental Studio provides a detailed cost breakdown specific to your treatment plan after the comprehensive evaluation. Below are general cost ranges for common components.
While insurance does not typically cover full mouth reconstruction as a single procedure, many individual components are covered by PPO dental plans. Periodontal treatment, extractions, bone grafting, and crowns frequently receive partial coverage ranging from 50 to 80 percent. Dental implant coverage is becoming more common and varies by plan. Our administrative team works with your insurance to maximize benefits across all phases of treatment.
PPO Plans We Accept: Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
We offer financing through CareCredit, which provides low-interest and interest-free payment plans that can make comprehensive treatment more manageable. We also accept FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) funds. For more details, visit our Insurance & Payment page.
The Loft Dental Studio is located in the South Coast Metro area of Costa Mesa, approximately 15 minutes from Huntington Beach. Our office at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103 is easily accessible from the 405, 55, and 73 freeways.
From Huntington Beach: Take I-405 South toward Irvine. Exit at Fairview Road and turn right (south) onto Fairview Road. Turn left onto Airway Avenue. The Loft Dental Studio is located on the right side in the South Coast Metro business park at Suite F-103. The drive is approximately 15 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
A smile makeover is primarily cosmetic and focuses on improving the appearance of teeth that are already healthy and functional. It may include veneers, whitening, or bonding. Full mouth reconstruction is a comprehensive treatment that addresses underlying structural, functional, and health problems in addition to aesthetics. It is designed for patients who have multiple missing teeth, advanced gum disease, severe wear, bite collapse, or failed previous dental work. Full mouth reconstruction rebuilds the entire dentition from the foundation up, often involving periodontal treatment, bone grafting, dental implants, crowns, bridges, and sometimes orthodontic alignment. At The Loft Dental Studio, our tri-specialist team ensures that every aspect of your reconstruction is handled by the appropriate specialist.
Full mouth reconstruction typically takes 6 to 18 months from start to finish, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of procedures involved. Simple cases involving crowns and a few implants may be completed in 6 to 9 months. Complex cases requiring periodontal treatment, bone grafting, multiple implants, orthodontic alignment, and full-arch restorations may take 12 to 18 months or longer. Treatment is delivered in carefully planned phases so that each step builds on the previous one. Temporary restorations are provided during treatment so you are never without functional or presentable teeth. During your consultation, our team will provide a detailed timeline specific to your treatment plan.
Full mouth reconstruction costs vary significantly depending on the procedures involved. Simple cases may start around $15,000 to $25,000, while complex cases involving multiple implants, bone grafting, periodontal surgery, and full-arch restorations can range from $40,000 to $80,000 or more. Individual components such as dental implants, crowns, bridges, and periodontal treatment each have their own cost, and many are partially covered by dental insurance. The Loft Dental Studio provides a detailed cost breakdown after your comprehensive evaluation so you understand exactly what each phase of treatment involves. We accept most major PPO dental insurance plans and offer financing through CareCredit as well as FSA and HSA funds.
While dental insurance rarely covers full mouth reconstruction as a single procedure, many individual components are covered by PPO dental plans. Periodontal treatment, tooth extractions, bone grafting, and crowns are frequently covered at 50 to 80 percent depending on your plan. Dental implants are increasingly covered by insurance, though coverage varies. Cosmetic procedures such as veneers and whitening are typically not covered. Our administrative team verifies your benefits for each component of your treatment plan and maximizes your insurance coverage across all phases. We accept Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and most other major PPO plans. Financing through CareCredit and FSA or HSA funds can help cover remaining out-of-pocket costs.
Full mouth reconstruction involves periodontal surgery, implant placement, bone and soft tissue grafting, prosthetic design and fabrication, and sometimes orthodontic alignment. Each of these disciplines requires years of specialized training beyond dental school. At most practices, a single general dentist attempts to handle all of these procedures, which means no single aspect receives true specialist-level expertise. At The Loft Dental Studio, each phase of treatment is performed by the appropriate specialist: Dr. Ahn, a board-certified periodontist with over 5,000 implants placed, handles all surgical procedures including implant placement, bone grafting, and gum treatment. Dr. Lu, a board-certified prosthodontist, designs and fabricates all crowns, bridges, and prosthetic restorations. Dr. Filipenka provides orthodontic alignment and cosmetic refinement. Because all three work under one roof, they collaborate directly on treatment planning and execution, eliminating the miscommunication and delays that occur when patients are referred between separate offices.
You may be a candidate for full mouth reconstruction if you have multiple missing teeth, severely worn or broken teeth, failing crowns or bridges, advanced gum disease with bone loss, bite collapse from lost vertical dimension, or a combination of these problems. Candidates also include patients who have avoided dental care for years and now face multiple issues simultaneously, as well as patients who have experienced dental trauma from an accident or injury. Age is not a limiting factor as long as you are in reasonable general health. During your consultation at The Loft Dental Studio, our tri-specialist team evaluates your teeth, gums, bone, bite, and overall oral health using digital X-rays, CBCT 3D imaging, and clinical examination to determine whether full mouth reconstruction is the right approach for your situation.