how many dentist opinions should i get?

Question

i have been to 4 dentists since july. the first said i have one filling that needs to be replaced (true) and i should think abuot getting my wisdom teeth out bc i have a small cavity in one.
Second fills the filling that fell out and says my teeth are just fine (August). leave them alone. In mid-September i see an oral surgeon for the wisdom teeth and he says i have 2 large cavities in my wisdom teeth. The fourth I saw at the beginning of October. She says no cavities and I don't need my wisdom teeth removed, but I have 2 fillings that need to be replaced or they could lead to root canals. Don't you think the other 3 dentists would have noticed the 2 fillings that needed replacing? The second did not take x-rays, could that be why he didn't mention that? If I go see a 5th I will probably just get another totally different diagnosis. I didn't realize dentistry was so subjective. Any advice for whether I should let the dentist replace the fillings? They are not bothering me.

Answer 1

No don't see a fifth dentist, you need to discuss this with a dentist that you feel comfortable with and can trust. Surely you have found one in these four. The other question about the X rays and replacing fillings, this question should have been directed to the dentist who said "you have 2 fillings that need to be replaced or risk a root canal." It could be that the exam and X rays she offered for free weren’t so free after all. There should be a definite reason for her to make this assumption.

Are these fillings leaking?
Is there decay present?
Are you having sensitivity or pain with these teeth?
Did she see something on the X ray that "she or her assistant" took, or did you bring copies of the X rays previously taken by your other dentist?
Can you get duplicates of these X rays or your previous X rays so either she or the dentist you choose to stay with can compare the two sets?

An X ray can be deceiving if angled incorrectly so having the older ones to compare to is very helpful. I would question her and have both sets of X rays looked at by her and your new dentist to make an accurate diagnosis. It could be an honest mistake or these teeth that had a watch on them that has progressed or this was possibly over looked by your previous dentist. Mistakes happen but they should not have progressed and resulted in a potential root canal therapy. Your previous dentist, or the new one you choose, would probably check these for you at no charge, just let the office manager or receptionist know what the problem is and what this dentist said, I'm sure they will be more than happy to help you resolve this problem.

As for replacing fillings....it's usually not done unless; the patient request the fillings be changed over to composites, they are leaking, cracked, decay is present, or some light is shed on a probable pending problem if they are not removed. Just to "replace" them for no reason is usually not done. I have always tried to discourage patients who ask to change perfectly good amalgams to composite restorations, when there was no problem with the amalgam. Every time a restoration or filling is removed, a little more tooth structure is lost or removed during the prep for the new filling. It's just not feasible to remove restorations without having a reason for doing so. This is something that I would definitely question the dentist about, and get a second opinion from your new or previous dentist; it will make you more comfortable with this diagnosis if the reasons are made clear to you.

Answer 2

First of all, don't wait until a tooth gives you pain before you have it filled, by then it may be too late and the options to restore the tooth may be a lot more costly than just a filling.
My second question would be why have you gone to so many dentists in the first place? I can understand the first two and the Oral Surgeon, but why did you not have the wisdom teeth removed then if the Oral Surgeon told you their were large cavities in them?
Taking xrays is a HUGE part of detecting cavities and at some point you need to trust one of these dentists you have seen and get the work done, you are wasting your money and your time with too many opinions and the cavities that you do have, in the meantime, are not getting fixed. Stick with one that you trust and call it a day.

Answer 3

Oh dear. You have been through the mill! I am a dental nurse and I do sympathise with your predicament.
Some of this really depends on whether you go to an NHS dentist or a Private practice.
I should explain. An NHS dentist usually only has the time, inclination and financial resources to do the bare minimum of treatment as they are only given funding for certain procedures. Often just enought to get the patient out of pain/discomfort etc. Aesthetics are often not an option!
Private dentists are obviously more expensive but have the time to do a good job using better quality materials and not 'short cut' the procedures. However, it is difficult to pick a dentist without knowing something of their standard of work and what they charge. The best way is by recommendation, otherwise try to visit any surgery you have in mind - try to get a feel for the place. If it is too fancy and the waiting room is very plush, it is likely to be expensive but not necessarily offer the best treatment. X-rays are necessary for new patients (preferably an OPG, a large X-ray which includes the whole upper & lower jaws.)
It is not usually necessary to extract sound wisdom teeth unless they are causing problems. They can be surrounded by a flap of gum which traps food/bacteria, then swells and causes infection. If they are carious (have extensive decay) it can be pointless restoring them as they are so far back in the mouth they serve no useful purpose. However, if they are impacted (lying sideways or jammed against the next tooth) they may be difficult to remove and would probably need to be extracted in hospital.
A fairly smart, friendly practice without unnecessary frills is one to go for. If you want a dentist who practices top quality dentistry - opt for one who belongs to the Pankey Institute - an American organization to further Clinical Excellence. You won't get better treatment as they are all dedicated practitioners, but could be pricey. If you let me know where you live I can let you have the names of any Pankey dentists in your area.
I hope this hasn't made you even more confused!!

Answer 4

Find a good dental hygienist in your area. They should do a periodontal probing. This will give them measurements of how your gums and bone levels are doing 1-3 is normal and everything is fine. 4-5 is slight gum disease and you still may be ok or if your gums are very red, inflammed, and bleeding when you brush and floss you may need gum treatment. 6-7 is moderate gum disease and you most likely need some gum treatment to hault the progression of this problem. They can usually also show you the bone loss on the x-rays, and they can usually show you the cavities also or they may say see how the instrument sticks here this is a sign of a cavity. Some dentists watch smaller cavities until they grow slightly and then fix them. However, if the dentist or hygienist does not bother to explain any of this to you, move on. Oh yeah, if you have dental insurance, the gum treatment normally has to be pre approved, or you can request this. This means they have to send x-rays and perio measurements to your insurance company. The insurance company will review your x-rays to make sure that the period measurements agree with what is on the x-rays and that you actually need the treatment. This is one good thing about insurance. It will help prevent you from being taken advantage of. If the insurance does not approve, you may not need it. However, not all insurances cover this treatment so be sure they do before judging. You also might want to go back and ask to be shown the perio probings and x-rays.

Answer 5

Hi,
Im going through the samething myself at the moment. I choose to go to other dentists for a second opinion and i didnt stop until i was statisfied with what i was hearing and also the cost to get it done. I don't know where u live (im from New Zealand) but here it's very expensive. But yes i think u should get it done make sure it's done properly meaning the filling won't come out again, you should be alright after that.

Answer 6

# 1=GET THE FILLINGS FIXED ON THE TEETH THAT NEED REPAIR. ASK THE DENTIST WHY THESE SHOULD BE CHANGED? IS THERE NEW DECAY OR ARE THE OLD FILLINGS JUST FALLING APART?
# 2 =IF ONE DENTIST SAYS DON'T PULL THE WISDOM TEETH AND THEY'RE NOT INFECTED OR IMPACTED JUST LET THEM GROW NATURALLY. SOME DENTISTS THINK JUST PULL THEM, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO UNLESS THEY RESENT WITH DIFFICULTIES.

DENTISTRY HAS MUCH SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE YOU BE FREE OF PAIN AND IN GOOD HEALTH.

Answer 7

I suggest you replace those fillings before they start bothering you. You should probably stay with the dentist who did the most thorough work. You want a dentist who you can trust and believe is doing the best work for you.

Answer 8

Get the fillings replaced and take it from me never ever get a root canal I have never felt pain like it, Child birth is a walk in the park com paired to root canal. If they insist on it (for whatever reason) get it taken out. Stick with one Dentist and take it from there. Remember your teeth change all the time.

Answer 9

I am not an expert, but if your wisdom teeth are not hurting/ bothering you personally, then it is probably not really important for you to have them removed. If they start hurting, then maybe I would do something about it. Most people do have their wisdom teeth removed at some time. Hope this helps!

Answer 10

Well they are all probably going to have different opinions as to what to do. just stick with the dentist you have been going to who knows your teeth.