Do you trust your dentist?

[ChasingPeace]

I just went to a dentist today--my first visit to a dentist in a VERY long time... like maybe 7 years. : Anyway, in addition to telling me I had a lot of plaque build-up, he told me that I had 17, yes 17, "areas of decay," that needed work. I asked "what kind of work?" He said I needed at least a root canal on one tooth ($625), and core and crown of another ($925), plus fillings. I asked "17 different procedures?" and was told yes, it appeared so. I lied and said I could be pregnant b/c we have no dental insurance and didn't want to pay for Xrays. This was supposedly a holistic, mercury-free dentist.

Anyway, there is NO WAY we can afford for me to get all that dental work, and I really only have slight pain in one tooth (not the one that supposedly needs a root canal) that comes and goes, and which I've had for years without it getting worse. I just can't believe my teeth could have deteriorated so much in the past 7 years. I haven't received dental care since I reached 18 (I'm 35 now), and the two times I've gone to dentists since then have been told my teeth are in good shape, but I should come to the dentist more to keep them that way. I thought it would be more of the same today. But instead, I was told "I"m not trying to scare you, but you really have to do something to save your teeth."

So my long-winded questions are, do dentists try to "sell" you procedures you don't really need? what's the harm in having "areas of decay" if there is no pain? I'm really skeptical but don't want to put my health or the health of my bf-ing ds or future babies at risk. I should add, that when he came in to examine my teeth, he told me he heard my say I was unhappy about the appearance of my teeth to the dental hygienist, and I didn't say any such thing. The closest thing I said was when she asked me if I drank a lot of tea, I said "I know my teeth are stained, but that's the least of my worries right now."

What do you think? Thanks!

[Starr]

I would beleive it. A lot can happen in 7 years. I started going back to the dentist this past spring after not going for 3 years. And I had 7 cavities and they are watching a lot more. A lot of mine came from drinking pop in college, even though I brush twice a day. I would call the dentist and see if it is possible to set up a payemnt plan, this is what i did. That way you don't have to pay it all at once. Also if you need that much work done they are not going to do it in one sitting. So they will probably break it into several appointments, which also helps for paying. Talk to them and see if you qualify for any kind of dental assistance.

[pumpkin]

I would absolutely get a 2nd opinion.

When I moved to Los Angeles I was all set to go to the dentist my school recommended. That week there was a big expose about how this particular dentist had been recommending unneccessary procedures. People were having root canals, fillings, teeth pulled, all sorts of things, and nothing was wrong with their teeth.

[Shiloh]

In my experience dentists sometimes do sell 'more' procedures, but mine have always been very honest and err on the conservative side.

Tell your dentist to plot out what has to be done NOW, 6 months, 12 months etc. A simple small cavity can wait - they are often easier to do 'bigger'.

The root canal - ask why you might need it, if there's infection you should get it done soon. Ask for a payment plan tell them you have no insurance (the price should drop 25-35% in my experience)

If you have a dentist school nearby think of going there they often do just for cost. But without x-rays then really what can he tell that has to be done asap...

[EFmom]

I can believe that you need that much work, but it might be worth getting a second opinion. If you do need the work, you don't have to have it all done today-get the worst of it taken care of as you can afford it.

My dentist is very conservative. He's willling to wait and watch if that's called for. I never get the feeling he's trying to sell me things I don't need.

[sadean]

If it were me, I would definately get a second opinion. While it is possible for teeth to go downhill that quickly, I find it questionable enough that I would want someone else to look at them.

I went for about 15 years without dental care. I told the hygentist when I went in for the first time in my adulthood for a cleaning and she got all concerned about what she was going to find. I opened up and she said, "oh this isn't too bad, just some plaque build-up" and then scrubbed my teeth. So, I don't think it is an inevitability that your teeth would be bad after a long hiatus from dental care. That is why I think a 2nd opinion is worth it (and about $850 cheaper than just getting all of the work done).