Is this dentist lying about cavities to get more money?

Question

I recently started the process of getting braces. Before getting the braces on my orthodontist said I should go to get my teeth clean and any cavities filled in. Since my orthodontist had xrays I asked her if I had any cavities. She looked it over and said I had a tiny beginning of one but really it wasnt very big at all.

I found a coupon online for a teeth cleaning and went to get my teeth cleaned today and that dentist said that I had two cavities, one tiny one that he saw and one huge one inside my tooth that he said he saw on the xray that I should get filled before I get my braces on. Do you think he could be lying to get more money? He wanted $400 to fill both of the cavities, but when i mentioned that I couldnt do that he said $130 each.

He also said i should come in every three months when I have braces to get my teeth cleaned, is that necessary?

Answer 1

It's hard to say if the DDS you just saw is not telling the truth, however, the REAL question here is DO YOU HAVE decay in only one tooth or do you have decay in more than ONE tooth --AND where do you go to have the teeth treated.

It sounds like the DDS you just saw was trying to do a favor for you by HEAVILY discounting his fees to help you get the services taken care of at the time of your visit---You are there --it would save you a trip and it would save the DDS's time--the room would have to be broken down and set up for you a 2nd time if you did not decide to stay and have the treatment and that --believe it or not---costs them money--

TRULY-it is not uncommon to see dental patients' teeth go from no decay to ramped decay--from sucking on cough drops, drinking too acidic drinks like lemon-aid and sodas OR from going from one dentist to a new dentist that is better trainned --Meaning the old dentist either was not comfortable in confronting his patients with this information AND or did not have the experience in diagnosing properly that when the new DDS comes into the picture and all of a sudden diagnosis all this NEW decay--in fact it may have been in that persons' mouth for quite some time JUST OVER-LOOKED by the old DDS.

*******I don't get the suspicion that he/she was trying to get more treatment out of you.*********

Some of the best ways to be sure you are not getting 'snookered' out of your money for fillings is to have them document with a video camera the removal of the decay as they drill through the decay--Most up-to date offices have the technology of a video camera that is used in the mouth to document such things for the 'doubting thomases' of the world or those NASTY DENTAL INSURANCE companys that try to get out of paying for the patient's dental treatments such as crowns and fillings.

Hope you reconsider going back or getting a 2nd DDS to look into the diagnosis and helping you get your cavities taken care of before you go into ortho treatment.

PS Your orthodontist does not have the 'end diagnosis' responsibility AND may not be trainned well enough to see ALL of the hidden decay in your smile---trust your general dentist to provide you this information.

Tina

Answer 2

When I was young our dentist used to drill like he was looking for oil. Teeth always looked great brushed regularly etc. I remember the dentist showing the x-rays to me and my mother and I d be like I don t see anything... And I wasnt stupid. He d drill huge holes and fill away. When I was older at say 21 I had a different dentist tell me I had a small cavity that should be filled. I said can I see the x-ray and again it didn;t look like anything. I know I am not an expert. I say I d rather not fill it is there any other alternative. He says well we could try a flouride treatment and see if it remineralizes. Sure enough, it s been 26 years and no other dentist ever mentioned that tooth. Drill baby drill must be the solgan at the Dental Association meetings. I will never trust a dentist about my kids cavities. There is obviously an incentive to drill for dough. My son has been told he has one now. I will be going to see the x-ray myself on his filling appointment. Certainly not all but many a dentist are like used car salesman with a license to rip you and the insurance companies off. I wonder if my teeth would be white and not full of amalgam if not for the drill baby drill routine.

Answer 3

Some things to think about:
+Not all cavities can be detected with an x-ray.
+Orthodontists are not as experienced in detecting decay
+You didn't ask your orthodontist for a referral to a trusted collegue - you found a dentist who offered a "coupon" and now you don't trust him
+If the dentist only wanted your money, why would he discount his fees so much? Sounds like he's doing you a favor.

Answer 4

Yes they do get more money from you and the way they do it is they will fill one tooth, then they tell you well you have another tooth next to the one he just filled that will need to be fixed very soon maybe even a root canal. well for some reason when the feeling comes back from the first one, you are hurting more than with the first one. now they tell you need a root canal and a crown. well what choice do you have you are in terrible pain. and so on, and so on, and so on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

That would make sense. It's happened to me before. One dentist told me I had no cavaties. Not even two months later, I went to another place and had four! There's no way in hell that could happen that fast and I'm a nut about taking care of me teeth. They said it was because I don't intake enough calcium so my enamel is weaker than most, but I don't know. Sounds a little fishy to me.

Answer 6

get another x ray from another dentist and ask. your orthadontist isnt an expert at spotting cavities but it does sound funky. check out another dentist.

Answer 7

it never hurts to get a second opinion, ask another dentist

Answer 8

HELLO,
THIS DENTIST IS CORRECT IN HAVING YOU ON REGULAR RECALL TO MAINTAIN YOUR GUMS HEALTHY WHILE YOU HAVE BRACES. I WOULD SUGGEST BUYING
AND USINGA WATERPIK MACHINE AFTER YOU HAVE THE BRACES TO KEEP THINGS CLEAN.

Answer 9

yep