Ugh. This is so disheartening to read all of these experiences. The SAME sort of thing happened to me--pediatric dentist wanted to fill a bunch of cavities on my son, general anesthesia, etc. My dentist said he was fine. I couldn't believe it.

I don't know how to find a dentist you trust, except to go with your gut and get second opinions. Also, internet research and other people's experiences can help you figure things out.

I am in a similar situation with my 4 yo. How did everyone find a new dentist to "trust"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About 2 years ago I was told I had 14 cavities. I had 7 filled and scheduled a return visit for 7 more. I had to cancel, and was really avoiding coming back anyhow. A year later I went to another dentist- said I didnt have any cavities.
I am still angry- and no longer trust dentists, any more then I do car salemen. Sad- but it happens

Similar thing happened to my DH.

Same exact think happened to me. I still fume over it when I think about it.

YES, BE WARY!

I was told by my dentist that I had 6 cavities that needed filling. I had him do 2 of them, and told him I would come back when I had the money saved up to do the others. Before I could, I moved and changed jobs and insurance, so I went to a new dentist and told him that I knew I had 4 cavities that needed filled. He did X-rays and told me no, I had no cavities at all and my teeth were perfect.

I guess the first dentist just drilled and filled perfectly good teeth just to get my damn money.

It's been about 8 years, and I still have no cavities, so it's not like they were maybe just really small, and the new dentist was being passive and waiting until they got bigger.

Yes! We went to a very fancy children's dentist who said my kid had 6 cavities, then shoved me to the front desk to schedule the appointments. I took her somewhere else and turns out she didn't have a single one. Beware.

This is a helpful thread. My child had several cavities filled at my current dentist but I wondered if maybe the dentist was being overly aggressive. For those of you who trust your dentist to not overdo it, any recommendations, particularly in Montgomery County?

Same story as many others have told here - went to a new dentist once and was told I had 14 cavities. Left crying after scheduling appointment for a bajillion fillings and a bajillion dollars. Was encouraged by friends to get a second opinion. No cavities. It's not like I have great teeth, but my second dentist was much less aggressive - he preferred the wait and see approach. In the 5 years I was with him, I had one filling replaced. No new cavities. Definitely get a second opinion!

Anonymous wrote:About 2 years ago I was told I had 14 cavities. I had 7 filled and scheduled a return visit for 7 more. I had to cancel, and was really avoiding coming back anyhow. A year later I went to another dentist- said I didnt have any cavities.
I am still angry- and no longer trust dentists, any more then I do car salemen. Sad- but it happens

Similar thing happened to my DH.

About 2 years ago I was told I had 14 cavities. I had 7 filled and scheduled a return visit for 7 more. I had to cancel, and was really avoiding coming back anyhow. A year later I went to another dentist- said I didnt have any cavities.
I am still angry- and no longer trust dentists, any more then I do car salemen. Sad- but it happens

Agree, get a second opinion. I had a similar experience as the PP. When I first moved to the area, a dentist told me I had 10 cavities that needed to be filled! I just been to my old dentist 6 months ago with no issues, so I found that hard to believe. Went to a new dentist that didn't find a single cavity, and 14 years later I've had 1 cavity in that entire timeframe. So, the worst that can happen is you lose time and a bit of money going to the second dentist when they reaffirm everything the first dentist said, but what you describe sounds very suspicious to me.

"A cavity" seems to be a judgement call.

Yes with totally different results

Agree that you should be suspicious. It turned out that four of my wives' colleagues all went to the same dentist - and he had told all of them that they grind their teeth and required a very expensive mouth guard! They switched and were told that there was no issue by their new dentists....

If you do not trust your dentist, find a new one. Go on recommendations from friends/neighbors.

You are right to be wary.

Upselling services has become almost routine at dentists today. It extends to various types of services both for children and adults. Orthodonal services for very young kids is one of the things that is being pushed. One orthodontist said it was absolutely essential and the other said it was not needed and even hinted that some orthodontists are pushing the two stage process as a way to make money.

I know that in my case, almost 25 years ago, a dentist in Alexandria - when we first moved to the area - said I needed seven fillings! I never went back to him again - and no other dentist has come up with the same finding. In fact, 25 years later, I have one more filling than I did since the Alexandria dentist pushed for me to have seven done!

My dentist seems good -- perhaps, but she is extremely business-savvy, and it makes me nervous. While I don't think she is a dishonest person who is filling non-existant cavities left and right -- she seems (I think?) to have a very pro-active/agressive approach to children's dentistry that involves extra flouride treatments ($), many x-rays ($$) and now "lasering" a "cavity" on my child's baby tooth. While they have been respectful when I push back against the many x-rays, the push is still there.

I'm considering seeking a second opinion, but honestly I dont' know what I'd judge the opinion on? If I get a second opinion that says, "this is not really a cavity yet, and really doesn't need to be treated, as this tooth will fall out in a couple of years)... well, that's what I'd LIKE to hear... but how do I know if that is the right direction? Perhaps my current dentist has the right approach?

Has anyone had concerns like this in the past? Did you get a second opinion? And how did it all turn out? Did you ever wait on getting a "cavity" filled on a child and regret it later?

I guess part of me is not sure this is actually a real cavity yet, or just a soft spot in the enamel. I'm no dentist, but I know my own dentist has identified some weakened enamel in my own mouth that has been there for years, and has never developed into a cavity.