Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

It sounds to me like there's a VERY AGGRESSIVE company marketing to dentists .... How To Improve Your Business Profitability .......

same with me .....

I went for a cleaning and a small filling to a new dentist and he REFUSED to do the filling unless I agreed to, and worked out payments, totaling almost TEN GRAND.

Suffice it to say, I never went back.

[ivey]

I feel exactly the same way. I have a new dentist (after my old one retired after seeing him at least 20 years), and they find something every single time I go in. I'm getting ready to change.

[jewelqueen]

Be careful about ignoring your molar. I had a similar situation, and one day it did "give way". Went to the dentist thinking I'd get a filling or crown, only to be shown on x-ray, that the roots were really infected due to my delayed treatment of the decay. My dentist recommended pulling what was left of my tooth that day. He said it was so infected, it was a real danger to me, and if I was his sister he wouldn't let me leave till it was out. So out it came. My tooth wasn't bothering me either, so pain isn't always the best indication of needing care. In retrospect I should have gotten it crowned earlier. Getting it pulled was $300, but I now have a blank spot. I absolutely cannot afford to have a post and crown put in it's place (cost estimated at around $4,000). A regular crown would have been $1100. My dentist was able to show all the gory details on the computer screen in the exam room. He has a little camera to take pictures and another device that creates a 3-D model of your tooth on the computer (which can be quite scary). Did your dentist actually show you how bad it is?

[I am still oxox]

Do not ignore dental work, I am a classic example of that

I had a horrible dentist as a child and became phobic, I thought I took care of my teeth, but there were some lapses in care, I started treatment in Jan 2012 with a local dentist who basically gave up on my case as a result I have lost what is left of my teeth and I have 4 implants on the top and will wear an anchored but removable bridge and I am on my way now to have the bottom treated I am lucky enough to have found a great dentist who works with a local hospital dental unit and the costs are a fraction of what they are in the real world.

[Financialgrl]

Not where I am now but when I lived in N. VA I saw a dentist in Alexandria like that. He came highly recommended. I went there because it was one of those that said its for those that fear dentists and they'd give you something to relax you. His assistant saw me first and gave me a bunch of options for work. The costs were all very high but I was shocked when she kept pushing saying they could fix everything really beautiful for $75,000. I allowed the dentist to do minimal work on two teeth. Fast forward and they'd moved to a high dollar area in McLean/Tysons and its now a dental/spa with dental work, massages, makeup help, etc. I had to go back for a follow up there twice and its a huge office and their admin types are really pushy.

They sent me a survey and I answered it truthfully - I said that it was bad enough that they don't appear to be just a dentist willing to do simple procedures or service the average working person but if I go to a dentist I want to get work done on my mouth and if I want a massage, waxings or makeup help, I'll go to a spa but not one that is combined.

[HHC1]

Modern Dentistry has turned into "BIG BUSINESS".

This is more evident in chain practices. They have a huge overhead due to fancy high tech offices and larger staffs that include SALES personnel. Normally, you won't leave the office without speaking to the "treatment Coordinator" (salesperson). There are still solo and smaller practices that may not be as aggressive. But, be prepared if you go to a chain practice.

[focksie]

I liken dentists to car mechanics. You have to find one who is honest and trustworthy. It also helps to do your own research and be armed with some knowledge so you have some idea if you're being taken for a ride.

OP, since your dentist said your molar is "showing some decay", did s/he say that it could simply be filled? If your dentist were to say it's too large an area of decay to be filled, ask him to show you the area on your x-ray. If it's obvious that the area he is showing takes up a large part of the tooth (dark area in the middle of the opaque "white" of the tooth, on x-ray), then a logical conclusion would be it's too large an area to be filled and something needs to be done about it to avoid infection from the decay (decay is bacteria).

When a tooth is "crowned" or capped, it is not removed so I don't understand why they would tell you it "needs to come out". When a tooth is crowned, the root of the tooth (which is the important vital part of a tooth) remains intact under the gums. The enamel/dentin portion of the tooth above the gum line is simply ground down to a nub so that the cap can fit over it and preserve the tooth. Again, the tooth is not taken out. If the molar truly needs to be taken out because there is so much decay present, you would either need a fixed bridge (which is more than just a crown) if the molar is between two other teeth, or if it's the last molar, you most likely wouldn't need anything there to fill the space.

Finally, have you ever requested that you be put on their recall system for them to call you or send you a postcard reminding you when you're due for a visit?

[Pqfan]

I need to change dentists desperately!

I go to a dentist that alot of celebrities go to and I do not have celebrity money!

They have dollar signs in their eyes where I go and if you refuse certain services they tell

you all of your teeth are going to fall out and try to scare you and make you feel bad.

I said ""oh well"" and he just got such an attitude.

I have good teeth and there was nothing for him to do so he makes up stuff!

[susankate]

AMEN!!!!!!

[Madisson]

On 9/11/2014 sylviahomeatlast said: Mr Sylvia has a knee replacement and he needs to take antibiotics before the dentist ---even for cleaning--

Especially for cleaning! My sister is a hygienist. I am a nurse. You take the prophylactic antibiotics when there is likely to be bleeding during a procedure. There is more bleeding during a cleaning than during the placement of a filling.