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I recently switched dentists after moving from NY to LA. Even before examining my teeth, the dentist looked at my xray and started rattling off all the teeth that apparently have cavities, a total of 12! She then left the room saying someone will talk to me about payment plans and such. I'm not a paranoid person by nature, but this was beyond suspicious for me.
One, I haven't had a cavity in 10+ years. Two, she hadn't even examined my teeth and based on my experience, that should come before a diagnosis. Third, she didn't even explain my options like there could be ones we can observe and hope they get better with mouthwash and floss. I even asked her about it and she point to this one in particular saying the cavities has reached a point where it will spread like wildfire if we don't drill it. That sounds scary. But the problem is, cavities shouldn't spread that quickly and if my last dentist didn't see it in my xray, how did this happen? I know I've been even more careful about my teeth lately.
A bit of background. So I've been to 3 dentists in the past 2 years. First one I knew for 10+ years, second one was a NYU dental school professor, and third one probably sees more mouths in a day than most others in a week. I trust their opinion and their diagnosis, which is, no cavities worth drilling into. All three dentists have my dental records, which I can easily compare this new one with.
It actually angers me that this facility thinks it can get away with the scam and probably do most of the time. Well, before I write that Yelp review, I just wanted to get some other opinions out there.
Here are my xrays and the recommended drilling plan.
I have no dental experience. I cannot understand mouth xrays. I also do not like to give opinions on medical/dental stuff on a public forum. But, for Pete's sake, go see another dentist !!!!!!!
I'm no expert either for sure, but I know dentists think $$$...I no longer get xrays as of 10 yrs ago or so. Don't feel it's necessary and money and radiation and just my gut feeling at this time in my life. I question everything and say NO more than ever.
I've had an area in my mouth that a dentist could have done major work on, major $$ and major trauma and it's close to 10 yrs that I keep the area calm and pain free. I've got so much distrust in probably the last 10 some yrs, wish I had felt this way when I did a hip replacement 5 yrs ago that left me with a mess of complications. Living longer and learning.
Why did you go to the dentist? I hardly go anymore and make up my own coconut oil toothpaste. And make up this remedy I use on the so called problem area that is calm and pain free.
Grape Seed Extract is a great antioxidant and works wonderfully for gum health.
Get a second opinion from a different dentist ASAP.
If you want to than ask the dentist to give you copies of the x-rays & ask for a written list of each cavity & the precise location. Take your x-rays & the list of cavities to another dentist for a second opinion.
Maybe even send the x-rays & the list to your old dentist to review.
Last edited by daliowa; 01-29-2016 at 03:19 PM..
Reason: edit
I recently switched dentists after moving from NY to LA. Even before examining my teeth, the dentist looked at my xray and started rattling off all the teeth that apparently have cavities, a total of 12! She then left the room saying someone will talk to me about payment plans and such. I'm not a paranoid person by nature, but this was beyond suspicious for me.
One, I haven't had a cavity in 10+ years. Two, she hadn't even examined my teeth and based on my experience, that should come before a diagnosis. Third, she didn't even explain my options like there could be ones we can observe and hope they get better with mouthwash and floss. I even asked her about it and she point to this one in particular saying the cavities has reached a point where it will spread like wildfire if we don't drill it. That sounds scary. But the problem is, cavities shouldn't spread that quickly and if my last dentist didn't see it in my xray, how did this happen? I know I've been even more careful about my teeth lately.
A bit of background. So I've been to 3 dentists in the past 2 years. First one I knew for 10+ years, second one was a NYU dental school professor, and third one probably sees more mouths in a day than most others in a week. I trust their opinion and their diagnosis, which is, no cavities worth drilling into. All three dentists have my dental records, which I can easily compare this new one with.
It actually angers me that this facility thinks it can get away with the scam and probably do most of the time. Well, before I write that Yelp review, I just wanted to get some other opinions out there.
Here are my xrays and the recommended drilling plan.
I don't know where you got the idea that a cavity can recover by flossing and mouthwash. A cavity is a rotted hole in your tooth. It can get worse, or it can be drilled out and replaced with a filling. Think of rust on a car door. If you wax it every week will the rust disappear and the steel grow back? No. Why not? Because it's a rotting hole in the metal. Same with your tooth.
Your treatment schedule only mentions desensitizing paste and composite resin but doesn't have any reference to drilling out the cavities. Are you sure they're cavities, and not just worn enamel that the dentist wants to cover up with resin (a sort of "build up" process) to prevent actual cavities?
Small to medium sized cavities actually can be reversed and repaired though with the appropriate regimen/medicines. There is actually a silent movement afoot in dental research to make prevention and reversal the first line of defense to cavities vs drilling & filling.
I would be willing to bet that you don't have 12 cavities. It sounds like the dentist has to make a mortgage payment.
If the dentist's mortgage payment is only $380 (which is the total of the treatment plan in the OP's link), then I'd suggest the dentist is living in the slums and is probably a really lousy dentist.
The price for composite filling up to three surfaces ranges from $150 to $450 depending on a number of factors. Let's be generous and assume the OP's cavity-filling needs are mostly minimal, and in a geographical location in the USA where dentistry is less expensive than in other locations. So let's call it $200 for 3 surfaces.
The OP is claiming he has 12 fillings needed. That's 4 sets of 3 surfaces, at $200 each, would come to $800.
So somewhere - someone's math is WAY off. Either that or the OP doesn't really need fillings and just needs a little buildup on some worn enamel.
get a second opinion asap! this is just sad that the pain isn't what people fear anymore when going to the dentist..its more the fear of getting swindled and charged for all kinds of unnecessary treatment...although $380 for 12 fillings seems rather cheap.....I paid $150 just for one composite filling ....so hmmm...still good to get a second opinion
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