Dental Work Qs
- Thread starter isu22andy
- Start date
I haven't been to a dentist in over 15 years I bet and I know I should start going regularly again but some of the stories in this thread aren't helping my courage. Never have had any tooth pain or issues that have given me a reason to make a visit but I would not be shocked if I have some cavities either. Guess my biggest fear is I go in and they say I need a bunch of work done that is expensive.
If your old dentist wasn't adequately addressing your concerns I guess that's one thing, but if he's looking things over and saying no work needs to be done now I'd maybe trust his experience and judgement.
Not sure I'd get real caught up on the technology piece, either. I went to a dentist for a while (younger guy in an established office on the north edge of Ames) where there would always be one cavity to fill, and EVERY time I went in to have that cavity filled, he'd color enhance the xray and decide the tooth on the other side of the gap he was already working on needed a filling also... or he'd drill out the first tooth and then decide the one next door needed something, also. After about the 3rd or 4th time I decided that was enough of a trend for me and never went back.
IMO you're way better off with a dentist with a conservative approach who watches for changes from one xray to the next and tells you to come back if X gets worse than someone who wants to constantly put in fillings and crowns and proposes other expensive solutions.
Not sure I'd get real caught up on the technology piece, either. I went to a dentist for a while (younger guy in an established office on the north edge of Ames) where there would always be one cavity to fill, and EVERY time I went in to have that cavity filled, he'd color enhance the xray and decide the tooth on the other side of the gap he was already working on needed a filling also... or he'd drill out the first tooth and then decide the one next door needed something, also. After about the 3rd or 4th time I decided that was enough of a trend for me and never went back.
IMO you're way better off with a dentist with a conservative approach who watches for changes from one xray to the next and tells you to come back if X gets worse than someone who wants to constantly put in fillings and crowns and proposes other expensive solutions.
It isn't rare. There are a lot of good dentists out there - more than the bad apples. It is just that there are many more of the bad ones than there should be.
My wife had a similar thing happen to her a couple of years ago. She has numerous fillings and had not been to a dentist in a few years so she went to a place that was by our house. Not super fancy but not old school either and I knew the dentist from my parents church growing up. They never did a cleaning and basically just did a teeth physical naming off a bunch of things and giving her estimates for several thousand dollars. She never went back.
Eventually she went to another one who said yeah you need some fillings redone or something like that but not nearly as much work as the other place suggested.
Eventually she went to another one who said yeah you need some fillings redone or something like that but not nearly as much work as the other place suggested.
This post hits home. I have had two experiences in the last 3 years regarding up-charging care. One very recently that is similar to the OP. I went in for a routine cleaning at a new place that opened closer to my home. Had the multitude of X-Rays and then had the dentist check the gums and teeth, rating each one 1-10. When the hygienist came in she told me that she would be doing a deep cleaning and started prepping me without asking any questions or explaining the charges. I told her that I would like an explanation since I was only in for a routine check and cleaning in accordance with my insurance. She told me that she could not do the routine cleaning at all since the dentist recommended the deep cleaning and told me I could leave. She also told me I had two cavities. When pressed, she had their financial person come back and tell me that the procedure was not fully covered under my insurance and would cost an additional $590, but it was okay cause I could just pay $89/month. I left and rescheduled with another dentist so I could just get the cleaning. I did not say anything about the old appointment to the new dentist. They did the check up and cleaning with no issues, did not recommend any additional work and found no cavities. When I left to settle up and schedule my next appointment the new dentist came up and said he would have to charge me because I had just used my 6 month check up the previous month. When I explained why I came to him, he ate the charges and told me that up-charging like a mechanics shop is taught in dental school "if you wanna get ahead." He even gave me an option to report it. Yesterday I received a call from the original dentist (financial gal) and told me the dentist re-reviewed my x-rays and recommended a new bridge for $6200. I was so upset I drove there with the hope of speaking to the dentist. As I pulled into the lot she was leaving in her Porsche SUV. Corruption is everywhere.
What dental school did he go to? I'm pretty sure - but I will ask - that my BIL was never taught anything like that. But then again, my BIL didn't go to Iowa for dental school.
Which is exactly what I look for in a dentist...one that I feel is there to treat my dental issues, not gouge me.
Actually they look at more than the tooth. Their philosophy is that there is an entire human being attached to that tooth and they have a responsibility to provide comfort, advice and information to that person so they can make informed decisions about their care that fits their needs. He recognizes that it is a patient's right to make informed decisions about their treatment that might even include postponing or choosing not to have any treatment. It isn't a dentist's role to pressure a patient into treatment.
Now I'm sounding like a commercial...
I had a dentist I'd been going to for years, similar to OP, one man shop. My wife picked up Dental insurance through her company, but had to switch to a mega practice, since my old dentist wasn't part of the plan. I go in and I get an estimate for a "desperately needed" root canal and 5 fillings. I do two of the fillings that day, but my filled teeth hurt for about a week after that. Plus, after insurance, the cost of the fillings was about what I would have paid for a filling at my old dentist. So I decided to get the rest done at my old dentist and I would just deal with the cost.
I go to my old dentist, he goes through my mouth and tells me he can't find any issues and didn't understand why I told him I had teeth that needed fillings. Then I mentioned the root canal, he asked if any of my teeth hurt, because he couldn't see anything that would indicate I needed a root canal and then said I've always had the best teeth of any patient he'd ever had.
I guess you have to pay for all that fancy equipment somehow. I would certainly check around. I've only been to 5 different dentists in my entire 49 years of life. 4 of them told me what an amazing set of teeth i have. One of them didn't and right away commented on how he could see there was work he needed to do. Guess which one that was. I still pretty sure I got drilled that day to simply boost the bank accounts, not because I actually needed a filling.
I go to my old dentist, he goes through my mouth and tells me he can't find any issues and didn't understand why I told him I had teeth that needed fillings. Then I mentioned the root canal, he asked if any of my teeth hurt, because he couldn't see anything that would indicate I needed a root canal and then said I've always had the best teeth of any patient he'd ever had.
I guess you have to pay for all that fancy equipment somehow. I would certainly check around. I've only been to 5 different dentists in my entire 49 years of life. 4 of them told me what an amazing set of teeth i have. One of them didn't and right away commented on how he could see there was work he needed to do. Guess which one that was. I still pretty sure I got drilled that day to simply boost the bank accounts, not because I actually needed a filling.
Wow, I can't believe how many people have had this same experience, including me. Like many, I took horrible care of my teeth until mid-way through college. Tons of pop, very little brushing and no flossing/mouthwash. I've probably had 8-12 cavities filled in my life.
I take very good care of my teeth now. My dentist recognized 3 or so "concern areas" at each visit. Basically, areas where decay had started, but was slowed or stopped by proper care; a "pre-cavity" if you will. She monitored them over time and as long as they weren't getting worse, she said no need to fill them. Also, I had an old filling partially fall out. She basically said "hey, if it's not hurting you, there's no reason to fix it." I'd been to this same dentist for 3-ish years, but I changed jobs and it was now a 30 min drive (one-way) to my existing dentist.
So I picked a new one not far from our house. I go in and they have all the fancy equipment. Sonic cleaning tools, trickling fountains in each room, lavender scented candles, the whole bit. What'dya know, they say I have 3 cavities that need filling. Oh, and that filling that fell out needs a crown. All-in-all, something like $1700 after insurance. After I pick my jaw up off the floor, I call my old dentist and explain the situation. They say "we will do a second opinion, but it is a $100 fee." I say fine and go in.
When I actually see my dentist, I explain the whole thing to her. She was very professional and never criticized the other dentist. Just said they haven't ever seen my teeth before and she knows these concern areas haven't been getting worse in 3 years. Then she waived the $100 fee and said see you next time. THAT is how you keep a customer happy and coming back.
I take very good care of my teeth now. My dentist recognized 3 or so "concern areas" at each visit. Basically, areas where decay had started, but was slowed or stopped by proper care; a "pre-cavity" if you will. She monitored them over time and as long as they weren't getting worse, she said no need to fill them. Also, I had an old filling partially fall out. She basically said "hey, if it's not hurting you, there's no reason to fix it." I'd been to this same dentist for 3-ish years, but I changed jobs and it was now a 30 min drive (one-way) to my existing dentist.
So I picked a new one not far from our house. I go in and they have all the fancy equipment. Sonic cleaning tools, trickling fountains in each room, lavender scented candles, the whole bit. What'dya know, they say I have 3 cavities that need filling. Oh, and that filling that fell out needs a crown. All-in-all, something like $1700 after insurance. After I pick my jaw up off the floor, I call my old dentist and explain the situation. They say "we will do a second opinion, but it is a $100 fee." I say fine and go in.
When I actually see my dentist, I explain the whole thing to her. She was very professional and never criticized the other dentist. Just said they haven't ever seen my teeth before and she knows these concern areas haven't been getting worse in 3 years. Then she waived the $100 fee and said see you next time. THAT is how you keep a customer happy and coming back.
May as well throw in my own anecdotal experience with the "unnecessary dental work" experiences.
I hadn't been to a dentist in probably about 7 years, but then one of my wisdom teeth started breaking apart. Obviously I had to go in to get a referral to an oral surgeon to get it taken out. This dental office did the regular x-rays and cleaning, the dentist looks at me, writes up the referral, notes a couple of cavities and also recommends the "deep cleaning." Well, my friend who had referred me to this dentist also got this recommendation and went through with it, telling me how horrible it was. So I said "nah, **** that, I feel fine other than this one wisdom tooth."
I never went back to have the cavities filled. Fast forward 8 years and I have a couple of molars start breaking apart. Yeah, my bad in not getting them filled earlier.....so I go to a different dentist to have them looked at and get a TP put together (prior dentist had retired even though he was really young). The hygienist at this new place goes through and notes the periodontal gaps and only a couple were at 4, and those were around my bad teeth. Dentist comes in, gives me the referrals for getting RC's and crowns.
I ask him about the deep cleaning and whether I need one, and he's like "no, everything in here looks really good other than those two teeth. A few cavities to take care of but nothing urgent."
So that was 8 years of just brushing once a day, never flossing, and golly gee, somehow my gums improved so much that a deep cleaning was no longer needed. Either that, or the prior dentist knew it was just an easy money-maker. Glad I didn't put myself through that torture and expense for no reason.
I hadn't been to a dentist in probably about 7 years, but then one of my wisdom teeth started breaking apart. Obviously I had to go in to get a referral to an oral surgeon to get it taken out. This dental office did the regular x-rays and cleaning, the dentist looks at me, writes up the referral, notes a couple of cavities and also recommends the "deep cleaning." Well, my friend who had referred me to this dentist also got this recommendation and went through with it, telling me how horrible it was. So I said "nah, **** that, I feel fine other than this one wisdom tooth."
I never went back to have the cavities filled. Fast forward 8 years and I have a couple of molars start breaking apart. Yeah, my bad in not getting them filled earlier.....so I go to a different dentist to have them looked at and get a TP put together (prior dentist had retired even though he was really young). The hygienist at this new place goes through and notes the periodontal gaps and only a couple were at 4, and those were around my bad teeth. Dentist comes in, gives me the referrals for getting RC's and crowns.
I ask him about the deep cleaning and whether I need one, and he's like "no, everything in here looks really good other than those two teeth. A few cavities to take care of but nothing urgent."
So that was 8 years of just brushing once a day, never flossing, and golly gee, somehow my gums improved so much that a deep cleaning was no longer needed. Either that, or the prior dentist knew it was just an easy money-maker. Glad I didn't put myself through that torture and expense for no reason.
