Defining oral rehabilitation.

"Oral rehabilitation" is a phrase that is used to encompass several levels of oral therapy. Usually, dentists think of an oral rehabilitation as meaning restoration of all of the teeth in a given mouth. However, when only the defective teeth in any mouth are restored, that too could be defined as an oral rehabilitation. The advent of esthetic dentistry has encouraged oral rehabilitation for esthetic reasons only. This article suggests that such oral rehabilitations should be preceded by thorough informed consent and education about other, more conservative, therapies. Patients should have full knowledge that such rehabilitations are not required, and that they may require frequent re-treatment at significant cost. Qualified specialists or experienced general dentists are capable of treating all levels of oral rehabilitation, and completion of courses at specific commercial institutes is not necessary.