I received two dental implants in order to replace four teeth with a dental bridge. This is on my lower right side. My teeth meet up on that side. However, on the left side they don’t touch at all. It feels uncomfortable when I chew. Is there anything that can be done about this or is it normal?
Casey
Dear Casey,
No, this isn’t normal. They way your teeth come together is called occlussion. Your teeth should all mesh at the same time. When it doesn’t, not only does it cause the pain you are experiencing when you are chewing, but it also can lead to debilitating TMJ Disorder. Your dentist needs to fix this.
While dental implants are not a recognized specialty, they are an advanced procedure that requires additional post-doctoral training. Yet, there are no regulations for getting that training or, if they do, how much.
There are two possibilities for what went wrong here. First, the implants could have been restored incorrectly. However, the most likely scenario is whoever placed them during the surgery did not do the right placement. If two different people are working on the procedure, such as a dentist and an oral surgeon, it is important you see the dentist first and that he or she determines the placement. Additonally, they need good communication throughout the procedure.
You need to have another dentist look at this to tell you what went wrong. Look for someone with the credentials that Dr. Weiss has on his bio to make sure you get someone who knows what they’re doing.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.
