OP here- The dentist who told me I didn't need any work done is wonderful and honest. Her name is Marie Banzon, I recommend her 100 %.

The bad dentist on Wisc. Ave- Her last name starts with a W.

I will often get 3rd and 4th opinions because I am so tired of dentists claiming I have a cavity when I don't. I have not had a single cavity since I was in high school. One dentist told me I had 7 cavities, when I went to my hometown dentist, he told me I had none.

One dentist told me I needed a root canal, I went to 5 other dentists for a 2nd opinion and decided not to have the root canal, 5 years later the tooth is still fine.

Brittany Vo with Beulah Dental in Vienna is absolutely wonderful-honest, gentle, skilled. She is also very good with children as well so very convenient to make an appointment for the whole family. I switched to her practice after another dentist also told that I needed extensive work. What a RELIEF to make an appointment with her and not have to worry about all the expensive work that the other dentist insisted I needed because if I didn't do that, all my teeth were going to "fall off."

Can anyone recommend a non-shyster orthodontist?

Dr Krainson on Connecticut is honest, great dentist, nice guy.

Beware of any dentist that has the word "dental spa" in the name of his/her practice. This ensure's you will be oversold and overcharged on procedures. I had a dentist who was in practice with his own brother and left the practice because the sibling wanted to "modernize" the practice and start pushing procedures on clients....

Anonymous wrote:Where do you find dental reviews for a new dentist?

I look on Yelp.

These are dentists that I wholeheartedly recommend -- they are great.

Dr. Cooper in Rockville

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cooper-charles-h-dds-rockville

Dr. Jose Arroyo in Silver Spring

http://www.facebook.com/pages/DR-Jose-Arroyo/167015996643553

After having gone through a handful of other dentists who kept trying to push unnecessary crap on me, I found Dr. Arman Davoudian and Dr. Lee near the Van Ness metro on Connecticut. I've been seeing them for 3 or 4 years now and they're great. They're the first ones I've found since I moved here 12 years ago that don't act like used car salesmen.

Where do you find dental reviews for a new dentist?

I gave up on finding a dentist that isn't a crook. I just go to the dental clinic and UMCP. I'm just lucky they take my insurance.

08:23 again: I wish I could remember the name of the female dentist in Bethesda who tried to scam me, since I don't want to tarnish the reputation of all Bethesda female dentists! It's been more than 10 years and I just don't recall. I hope that some of the others will post names.

On Steve Kahan: my entire office ended up going there, with no complaints, ever. He has only recommended one minor procedure on my teeth in 10 years, and has never recommended one for my husband. I wish I had the same confidence in my children's dentist.

I had the same thing happen to me with a dentist in Bethesda. (I was new to town and just chose someone close to my office.) She fabricated several cavities that did not exist. Suspicious, I started asking around my office to see where everyone else went, and discovered a great dentist who confirmed that of course I had no cavities. (I have only had one in my life.) I have gone there ever since--for more than 10 years. Highly recommended dentist with friendly and competent office staff: Steven Kahan in the Barlow Building near the Friendship Heights metro.

Ack, OP you've scared me! I just made an appointment for myself with a new dentist who is on our insurance. I did read reviews, and there were very few on her (though what I found was good). But she's in downtown Bethesda! Tell me your dentist (the one who wanted to do too much work) did NOT have a last name beginning with D.

My husband is a dentist and has told me that many dentists will look for every which way to bill insurance so they can make more money. It doesn't matter what kind of dentist it is either, oral surgeon, pediatric dentist, general dentist, etc...

Always get a second opinion and even a third.

After hearing all the horrid stories about dentists doing this I have thought about writing a letter to the department in charge of handling insurance fraud. My husband is too kind to report them but I'm not. I encourage everyone to do so. If the report is in error then it will not harm the dentist. But if several people make reports regarding the same dentist, it can harm his practice and reputation and this is the only way to stop the practice.