I had a dental implant bridge and am wondering if it is important that my teeth don’t line up the way the used to. The teeth on one side of my mouth line up when I chew but not on the other side. Will this matter in the long run? I mentioned to my dentist that my jaw is a bit achy, but he said that is normal after this type of procedure. Now I’m wondering if the issue is my bite.

Carol J.

Dear Carol J.,

I am glad you wrote. Yes, this is a big deal. If your teeth do not line up properly, it will lead to TMJ problems. You are already experiencing some aching in your jaw. I am frustrated that your dentist blew this off, but it doesn’t surprise me. Dental implants are an advanced procedure and is now one of the leading cases in dental malpractice suits.

It isn’t taught in depth in dental school, nor is there a recognized specialty. This means a dentist has to invest the time in post-doctoral training in order to have any real skill. Most of the time in cases like this the problem lies with the surgeon placing the implants in the wrong position.

When one person does both the surgery and the restoration, there is no fear of miscommunication between dentist and surgeon. However, not many dentists are qualified to do the surgery. As a result, they’ll refer you to an oral surgeon. If that happens. It is imperative the dentist is in charge of placement, not the surgeon. In fact, a wise dentist will make a surgical guide. This fits in your mouth and gives the exact angle and position where the dental implant should be placed.

You are within your rights to have this procedure re-done. He’s thrown off your bite. However, instead of just asking for a refund, ask him to cover the cost of getting this repaired correctly with the dentist of your choosing. It will be important because of the complicated nature of your case that you see a true expert. I recommend you use someone who is either a diplomate or fellow with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. They have the training and proven expertise to repair this properly.

This blog is brought to you by Sugarland Dentist Dr. Siny Thomas.