I Don’t Trust Dentists?
i put a post up earlier but i guess it wasn’t clear that i don’t trust dentists which is why i am asking strangers for advice over the internet. In short, I have seen 4 dentists since July and only 1 (the last) has mentioned that I need 2 fillings replaced or risk having to do root canal. My question is is that likely since I had a check up in July and the dentist then made no mention of needing fillings replaced (she has my xrays and confirmed it last week). The reason i am not going to the one from July (who i thought was good) is because it turns out she is not on my specific plan. She takes my carrier, but not MY plan. So i went somewhere else that has a free exam and xrays for the first visit. They seemed very thorough, but then told me about the fillings needing to be replaced. If it helps it is Aspen Dental. Does anyone have info on them?
M L on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 9:32 pm
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 your other dentist 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 both dentists 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 result in a root canal therapy. Your previous dentist 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 previous dentist; it will make you more comfortable with this diagnosis if the reasons are made clear to you.
HeatherS on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 10:26 pm
Keep looking. The worst thing you can do is neglect your teeth.
notyou31 on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 10:59 pm
never go to nanston dental.
superson on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 11:15 pm
I went to Castle Dental in Houston once because I had a sore tooth. They told me it was cracked and I needed a cap. Then they took me in a room where some salesperson type explained all the payment options. I got the heck out of there and went to a regular Dentist for a second opinion. By the time I got to see him my tooth felt better. He said it was fine no crack. 10years later its still good.
I never heard of Aspen Dental but I would stick with an Independent dentist and not one of the chainstores.
T.J. on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 11:38 pm
why do you don’t trust dentist they keep caveat’s away and they clean your teeth don’t you have a dentist i don’t