Suspicions about my dentist

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP that I think Dentists who scam people into getting unnecessary dental work has reached EPIC proportions. I would be especially suspicious if, as an adult with no cavities, I now started getting 2-3 per visit.

Next time you go for a check up, and he says you have cavities, go get a second opinion. Then REPORT him to the state medical board!

[Anonymous]

Totally off-topic, but, this happens with veterinarians too. Always, always get your films from your vet and use them to get a 2nd opinion -- on dental, surgery and other high-ticket things.

[Anonymous]

I won't repeat since the PPs have summarized what I was going to say...but you could always use the excuse that you are moving and that is why you need your xrays/files/medical records to take with you or send over to office X.

[Anonymous]

Definitely get a second opinion, even if you have to pay.

I went through this last year where I went to a new dentist, and she wanted to all sorts of aggressive treatments. I felt a little funny about it and went elsewhere. Yes, I had two cavities that needed to be filled, but definitely not all the rest of the work she wanted to do.

[Anonymous]

For health reasons, be very careful about getting all your old caps replaced at once. My mother did this a decade ago. It threw her into TMJ and she's had that and muscle spasms in her neck ever since.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately there are some unscrupulous dentists. Case in point, my thirty something year old colleague went to a very nice chi chi practice in Arlington for the first time and was quoted a treatment plan for $ 4400 for 5 fillings and a crown. This seemed rather shocking to her and she asked my husband, a dentist, for a second opinion. He didn't find any cavities on her x-rays and found on exam only one clinically "incipient" cavity lesion (nothing to be fixed immediately). He'll reexamine in six months to see if it's progressed. She also had a cleaning and xrays for $1000 (this made my husband's jaw drop!!)

Please get a second opinion if you have any doubts !!