Two months ago, I decided to get an upper right side three unit fixed bridge. This seems to look fine from the front but when I look at the back of my mouth, there’s a noticeable space between my top and bottom teeth. The teeth don’t touch, chewing is awkward and uncomfortable and my dentist doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem; my dentist said this is as good as it gets.  Is this normal or should I seek a second opinion?

It’s a challenge to know why your teeth aren’t touching without reviewing your dental x-rays, doing a complete exam and seeing clinical notes. There are many reasons your teeth might not be touching. One reason may be that you have fractured bottom teeth and your dentist is trying to prevent more damage by allowing space on the bottom. The other reason is that you may have a tooth that has erupted on the bottom. Another consideration is that if a tooth has been missing for a while, a dental bridge may not duplicate your original bite because the mouth changes over time. Sometimes teeth shift so this can affect contact. It’s generally important that there’s tooth contact to prevent further dental issues. If you’re questioning your recent procedure, we would recommend you get a second opinion.