Dentists' modus operandi
Jul. 29th, 2017 08:40 amAbout half a year ago my dentist told me that there is a decay below my tooth bridge. Therefore that the bridge needs to be re-done (at the cost of around $4,000). She insisted, that tooth decay is not reversible.
When I asked her if a tooth can heal itself - she said that it is possible, but only if decay did not reach below enamel.
In the following months I started to pay more attention to flossing and rinsing around that problem space, and yesterday went to another dentist for a cleanup and dental exam.
New dentist found decay below the bridge and recommended to replace it (at the cost of $4,814). He insisted, that tooth decay is not reversible. When I asked him if a tooth can heal itself - he said that it is possible, but only if decay did not reach below enamel.
The good news for me is that the new dentist did not find any problems with the bridge that my previous dentist wanted to re-do.
And my previous dentist did not find any significant problems with the bridge that the new dentist wants to fix.
In addition to replacing bridge, the new dentist suggested to pull my 4 wisdom teeth ($236 each) and re-do a filling ($350).
The question is - how do I know know what recommendation has a merit and what recommendation is just a money grab?
When I asked her if a tooth can heal itself - she said that it is possible, but only if decay did not reach below enamel.
In the following months I started to pay more attention to flossing and rinsing around that problem space, and yesterday went to another dentist for a cleanup and dental exam.
New dentist found decay below the bridge and recommended to replace it (at the cost of $4,814). He insisted, that tooth decay is not reversible. When I asked him if a tooth can heal itself - he said that it is possible, but only if decay did not reach below enamel.
The good news for me is that the new dentist did not find any problems with the bridge that my previous dentist wanted to re-do.
And my previous dentist did not find any significant problems with the bridge that the new dentist wants to fix.
In addition to replacing bridge, the new dentist suggested to pull my 4 wisdom teeth ($236 each) and re-do a filling ($350).
The question is - how do I know know what recommendation has a merit and what recommendation is just a money grab?