Cavity

[Magnus2010]

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I have a cavity near the gum line. Its on the edge of an old filling.

I went to a dentist who recommended a root canal and crown. It was expensive. So I went to another dentist who said I probably did not need it, they would have to start drillnig and if it really bled then I would need one, but they felt I wouldnt. Just a regular filling - but this was over $1300. The first dentist said my pockets were 1-3 mm with a few 4's. This last one said the friont lower gums had 5's and recommended I go to a periodontist who would do treatments every 3 months for some time and when they were done I could come back to the regular dentist.

That seems like a hell of a lot. How do I get an opinion I can trust on this?

I often feel like dentists are the new chiropractors - in that they find ways to keep you coming back forever and sell you jacked up expensive packages for unecessary things.

How do I get an opinion I can trust? There are dental schools near me - are those good honest choices?

 

[Doc Smile]

I have a cavity near the gum line. Its on the edge of an old filling.

I went to a dentist who recommended a root canal and crown. It was expensive. So I went to another dentist who said I probably did not need it, they would have to start drillnig and if it really bled then I would need one, but they felt I wouldnt. Just a regular filling - but this was over $1300. The first dentist said my pockets were 1-3 mm with a few 4's. This last one said the friont lower gums had 5's and recommended I go to a periodontist who would do treatments every 3 months for some time and when they were done I could come back to the regular dentist.

That seems like a hell of a lot. How do I get an opinion I can trust on this?

I often feel like dentists are the new chiropractors - in that they find ways to keep you coming back forever and sell you jacked up expensive packages for unecessary things.

How do I get an opinion I can trust? There are dental schools near me - are those good honest choices?

Every dentist has a preferred pattern of practice and those practice methods will differ if you go get a second opinion. Seems to me like you are trying to find a dentist that will tell you there is nothing wrong.

Go to the dental school if finances are on the tight side. I wouldnt trust a internet forum for sound advice, especially without being able to see radiographs or the oral cavity clinically.

plus this thread will be closed ASAP by the moderators.

 

[Magnus2010]

I am not looking for anything to be wrong but I have just had so many dentists try to hock me all sorts of worthless crap, and when I hear $1300 for a simple filling my BS meter starts to make funny noises.

I think practice management has taken over dentistry to the point that its hard to find one you can trust

 

[browncrack]

You should save some money and try a dental vacation. Someplace with a beach.

 

[Streetwolf]

You make it sound like a simple one surface restoration which is probably in the 100-300 dollar range (not sure, not in private practice yet).

When you say 1300 dollars I think crown.

Without pictures it's hard to say anything at all.
Without seeing it clinically, radiographs, etc it's hard to say anything specific.

You have every right to get as many opinions as you feel you need but at some point you have to decide which dentist to trust and get the work done. Not every dentist out there is looking for a sale. Many will actually be honest with you. And quite often it is true that we need to take out the old filling and/or decay before we know exactly what's going to happen with the tooth.

Dental schools are usually pretty good with treatment options, at least from my experience. The faculty are trying to instill good values into us. 🙂