Re: Over Cautious Dentist?


Billy wrote:
My new dentist takes 18 x-rays every 5 years, then 7 x-rays annually.

I take fullmouth xray evey 3-5 years 20 films. checkup x-rays 6 films
annually. If there are areas I am concerned about I will take a
separate x-ray to show the roots.

I'm a 40 year old male and I've seen this dentist for two years now.
Since utilizing his services, I've had to get 6 fillings, some so minor
the drilling lasted 30 seconds or less without any anesthesia at all.

Sounds like he makes sure all your decay is gone even the smallest.
With amalgam silver fillings you had to drill a bigger hole to remove
this decay so that you can put in the metal fillings. Some dentists did
not fill these teeth because of this. With tooth coloured fillings the
hole can be minimum.

He always likes to do the "white" fillings, even in the back, maybe
because they cost more.

I do not do amalgam silver fillings anymore. The composite tooth
coloured materials are very good these days more conservative to the
tooth being drilled on. Amalgam fillings require EPA permits these days
because of the danger of mercury to the environment. Apparently when
they are stored in your mouth the environment is not affected!!?????
The white toothcoloured fillings cost more because they take longer to
do and require extra care during placement. And they are valued more
because your tooth gets the most conservative and modern filling.

My insurance doesn't pay for that.

Why would they? they are in the business of making money not giving it
away. They know people like to have tooth coloured modern fillings and
they want to use that to get out of their obligation to you when you
file a claim.(or the dentist files the claim on your behalf)

He has every
new dental technologicl gadget known to man, so you may have guessed.

So do I. Sounds like somebody who is passionate about their work and
wants to use the most modern tools available for his patients. Don't
you want that for example when you get LASIK eye surgery or would you
prefer the doctor used a blade or the old laser machine?????


My girlfriend sees him too. She needs a route canal,

root canal -- Although I like your term better :)

5 fillings, etc.

If she needs she needs. Only she can decide that. People do not require
dentistry or teeth for that matter to live productive lives. Nature has
it's own way to take care of that. People have lived their lives before
advanced dental care why do you think your girl frient can't live that
way. If she wants to have healthy teeth vs broken down ones then in her
mind that is a need not a want. Even though you and I know it is a want
to have healthy perfect teeth.

He determined. My former dentist likely gave me this many fillings in
the entire 10 years I've seen him.
Your former dentist is a different person with different philosophy of
treatment. He did not do white fillings in the back. I'm sure he took
good care of your teeth to his ability and gadgets.
Who is to say that if you did not go to your former dentist he would
not find these new cavities. Maybe maybe not. I can not judge that from
cyberspace especially if I did not see what your new or old dentist saw
that day in your mouth.

I take meticulous care of my teeth,

Wonderful. Then why are you worried about your new dentist being
meticulous about the dentistry he provides you???
they are perfectly straight and I brush religously twice daily.
What about flossing? You do not have to floss every tooth just the one
you want to keep. If you do not floss you can very easily get cavities
between your teeth on each of the teeth. That can easily add up to
several cavities.


My
girlfriends are not as great as mine, but they are ok-ish.


Sounds like you need another girlfriend. Gum disease is contagious --
you know that I hope?

Now, he pushed me to get a tooth removed
Wow did he restrain you? or use reason to explain why you might want to
get that fixed.
and I did from a specialist.
You could have escaped instead of going to the specialist.

Now that the tooth is gone, he and the hygenist gave me a half hour
talk on how my upper teeth will drop/shift/ect
Teeth drifting 101 course twice. What an education. Yes teeth move and
it gets difficult to correct.
until I get a $5,000
implant....
Sounds on the high side for one tooth. You should check to see if it is
the surgeon who puts it in that is expensive of your new dentist. The
price of course depends on the area and the skills and dedication of
the dental team both the restorative and surgeon. I'm pretty sure you
would go to the specialist for the implant since your new dentist did
not extract that tooth himself. If he referred you then placing an
implant most likely could be out of his comfort zone. But then again I
did not see your tooth, it might have been a very dificult extraction
etc.... I charge roughly about $4000 for the surgery and the abutment
and crown.
However if your team is good at what they do, paying an extra $1000 for
your health and piece of mind when you put that in the perspective of
lifetime dental care is worth it.


that he will do, of course.

I'm pretty sure he means restoring the implant and the specialist
screwing it in.

Am I seeing the wrong dentist?
I think from my comments you should be able to answer that question.
Most important thing is trusting and confidence in the team not the
expenses you will encurr. Remember unless they are restraining you and
using mind altering drugs to get you to go with the treatment plan, you
are not being pushed, just informed about what it would take to keep
your mouth meticulous. By law and by the standard of care they must
inform you of the risks, benifits, consequences of procedures, provie
you with alterative treatment if any is possible and consequences of no
treatment. If you interpretted that as being pushed, then you are
mistaken and should discuss your feeling with your team.

Does the x-rays and tooth work sound
extensive?
no.

What do you think about the implant?
Do you think you want it? if they tootk out an important tooth that was
not restorable, it makes sense to replace it. If you are asking me
whether implants are a good thing and do they work a good percentage of
the time, ... Then i have to say yes as long as you are a candidate.
Implants long term are a cost savings.

.

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