• 9
    Jul
    2010
  • Trusting a new dentist: Should my suspicions prompt a second opinion?
    posted by Kris Nickerson

I had to find a new dentist because I moved to the southwest. After an exam X-ray the dentist told me I had 5 possibly 6 cavities. I find this highly suspect because a) I have had consistent flossing and brushing habits for years, b) I’ve never had such a high number of cavities at once, c) dentists rely on a visual and utterly subjective judgment whether a shadow in the X-ray is loss of enough tooth density to drill and replace with a filling, d) this dentist just happened to find enough work to do that would max out my insurance for a year (and he knew the figure that would max it out because co-workers with the same policy go to the same dentist), e) I have existing fillings that he may want to refill but it may not really be necessary. I have no pain indicating a definite cavity. I was also highly suspect of how impersonal he was with a new patient.

I’ve been to other dentists before, and I get the strange feeling this dentist may be more interested in securing clients given there is a glut of dentists in town. I know that filling a cavity isn’t the most complex dental work, but it is possible he could crack a tooth, which could then lead to more serious work needed in the future (like a root canal). I don’t feel very confident about how he discussed my teeth. He sounded like he was unsure about the sixth "shadow" he saw on a tooth in the X-ray and simply said, " Well, maybe we’ll leave that one for now." What makes him so certain that the other "shadows" need to be drilled immediately? Would it be inappropriate for me to seek another opinion?

You are very correct to not have blind faith in a person you know nothing about. Trust is vital in a good doctor patient relationship. You have every right to ask that your x-rays be sent to another dentist for a second opinion. You will probably find out that the first dentist is right. But if he seems resentful to your request, he may not be the dentist you want to stick with. Good luck

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 9th, 2010 at 10:48 pm and is filed under how to get new dental patients. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Trusting a new dentist: Should my suspicions prompt a second opinion?”

grandpa walleye Says:
July 9th, 2010 at 11:05 pm

You are very correct to not have blind faith in a person you know nothing about. Trust is vital in a good doctor patient relationship. You have every right to ask that your x-rays be sent to another dentist for a second opinion. You will probably find out that the first dentist is right. But if he seems resentful to your request, he may not be the dentist you want to stick with. Good luck
References :
A dentist for 44 years.

kjw Says:
July 9th, 2010 at 11:32 pm

I think with your current level of doubt, it would be best to seek a second opinion. As a dentist, I want my patients to feel comfortable, and whether this guy is over-treating or not, I think it would be best for your peace of mind to seek a second opinion (via xrays and exam with another dentist). Hope you find a good one in your new area.
References :

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