| Posted By |
Message |
noworlater
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1528 total posts
Name: Now!
|
2nd opinion way different edited more questions
Hi
So my dentist said I needed 8 cavities and 3 root canals which was shocking since I've never needed any work done in my 33 years. ..so I had to get a second opinion so I went to my dad's dentist and this one said I needed 2 root canals but the rest of my teeth were perfect. I'm not crazy about this dentist either (poor bed side manner) I don't know who to believe now?
Prior to this I had a bad experience with a dentist trying to force me to xrays when pregnant, and I was just there for a cleaning, no concerns, I was not comfortable, kindly refused, and she was mad.
I'm starting to really not trust dentists.
Advice?
Edited- do you tell the 2nd 3rd dr that you are seekingtheir opinion and what first dr said? I didn't say anything to 2nd dr didn't want to sway his opinion?
Please recommend your dentist
Message edited 6/9/2015 2:21:45 PM.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:00 PM |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
alexb
LIF Adult
Member since 5/13 960 total posts
Name:
|
2nd opinion way different
hmmm- no advice but I am highly mistrustful of dentists as well... I feel like they always try to make a quick buck :/
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:02 PM |
| |
|
jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
Name:
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
funny, i love my dentist! He always shows me the xrays and goes over what he sees and work that needs to be done.
I would go with the dentist your dad uses as your family has a history with him plus he is telling you that it is less work.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:04 PM |
| |
|
NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..

Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name: ..being a mommy and being a wife!
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
Posted by alexb
hmmm- no advice but I am highly mistrustful of dentists as well... I feel like they always try to make a quick buck :/
Yep me too Go with the one who says you need less work Unless you are in pain or having issues, I'd go that route
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:08 PM |
| |
|
HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!

Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name: Jenn
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
Honestly I would probably get a 3rd opinion and see where that one falls. Then decide who to go with and what to do.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:08 PM |
| |
|
Momma2015
Mommax2

Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
Posted by HomeIsWithU
Honestly I would probably get a 3rd opinion and see where that one falls. Then decide who to go with and what to do.
I would, too. I actually had a fantastic experience with 1-800-DENTIST. They really tried to match me up with someone who I felt comfortable with, which wasn't easy considering I have a terrible fear of getting work done on my teeth.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:10 PM |
| |
|
noworlater
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1528 total posts
Name: Now!
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
Posted by jams92
funny, i love my dentist! He always shows me the xrays and goes over what he sees and work that needs to be done.
I would go with the dentist your dad uses as your family has a history with him plus he is telling you that it is less work.
Can you pm your dentist?
Both places showed me the xrays as they explained it, I don't see anything when I'm looking at them. ...
I loved the 8 cavity dentist, they were very personable, they greeted you by name when you walked in and remembered weird facts about you ands would f/u on conversations you had last time, like how was aunt sally s birthday party? That was part of their game tho to make you super comfortable. ..I always assumed they took notes during/after your visit
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:14 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
honestly, I would def. do a THIRD opinion and see where that goes first. Then, I would probably lean towards the one who said less work is needed. Very fishy.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:19 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
I agree with going to one more. I went to a new dentist once who said I needed $3k in work- beyond what my insurance would cover, and at the time I had excellent insurance.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:27 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
I would say get a third opinion since the first two were so drastically different.
|
Posted 6/9/15 1:42 PM |
| |
|
summerBaby10
let's be nice

Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name: Wifey
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different
Are you in pain? I would get a 3rd opinion & not mention your previous diagnosis.
|
Posted 6/9/15 2:25 PM |
| |
|
Leb
LIF Adult

Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
|
2nd opinion way different edited more questions
I would get a third opinion and not say anything about the previous two opinions until you had the third opinion.
What town do you live in/near? Maybe someone can send a suggestion. My dentist is awesome and in all the years I've gone to him I've just had one cavity (my only) and it was a spot he watched for two years prior. Also I never ever get X-rays. I decline every time and he is respectful of that.
|
Posted 6/9/15 2:30 PM |
| |
|
edfilippi
LIF Adult

Member since 8/12 997 total posts
Name: Erica
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
This happened to me once. I went to the dentist. He looks at my teeth doesn't even do an xray and tells me I have 8 cavities! And if he should start the work now. I was so upset about the 8 cavities that I said no and I would come back. I went home and cried lol then made an appointment with another dentist that my dad was using. He did xrays and said that I only had 2 cavities. I got those 2 cavities filled and all was fine. I have since been for additional cleanings and I not had to do anything. You really need to trust them because if I didn't get a 2nd opinion I woukd have 6 additional fillings for nothing. I would go with the 2nd dentist or go for a 3rd. I also would not say that you have been somewhere else.
|
Posted 6/9/15 2:55 PM |
| |
|
noworlater
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1528 total posts
Name: Now!
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
Posted by Leb
I would get a third opinion and not say anything about the previous two opinions until you had the third opinion.
What town do you live in/near? Maybe someone can send a suggestion. My dentist is awesome and in all the years I've gone to him I've just had one cavity (my only) and it was a spot he watched for two years prior. Also I never ever get X-rays. I decline every time and he is respectful of that.
Thank you, I'm near Levittown but willing to travel I have met life the plan stinks
|
Posted 6/9/15 2:58 PM |
| |
|
NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..

Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name: ..being a mommy and being a wife!
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
Random question- does your insurance cover the 2nd and 3rd opinions? I would imagine they all have to do their own sets of xrays etc. Plus office visit charges I know my insurance only covers a check up/cleaning twice a year- with the associated xrays.
Are the 2nd and 3rd opinions covered by insurance?
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:06 PM |
| |
|
noworlater
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1528 total posts
Name: Now!
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
Posted by NervousNell
Random question- does your insurance cover the 2nd and 3rd opinions? I would imagine they all have to do their own sets of xrays etc. Plus office visit charges I know my insurance only covers a check up/cleaning twice a year- with the associated xrays.
Are the 2nd and 3rd opinions covered by insurance?
It won't, I have to wait 6 months but luckily nothing is bothering me right now
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:13 PM |
| |
|
SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name: S
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
I would do a third opinion. The two you have are miles apart, so it is tough to make a good decision.
I drive to Astoria for my dentist, have been with him for 20 years now. He does not do anything without fully explaining what it is, does not do anything that is not necessary, and will do just about anything to try to save a tooth rather than pull it. He is very particular about his work too, does not rush thru procedures.
His wife is a partner, she is the periodontist.
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:15 PM |
| |
|
BlessedMomma
LIF Adult

Member since 12/11 6163 total posts
Name: Momma Bear
|
2nd opinion way different edited more questions
I would personally get a 3rd opinion. They are so far opposites of their evaluation that it would concern me.
IF you do have cavities that the 2nd dr is missing, that can quickly decay your teeth further where you need more root canals. BUT you do not want unnecessary fillings especially 8 of them.
When was the last time you were at a dentist?
And yes I have found dentists to be very sketchy. I find it hard to trust them. I had a dr who convinced me to do a cat scan of my mouth CAT SCAN which is new technology, which NO OTHER dentist I went to EVER heard of. And of course my insurance wouldn't cover it and it ended up costing me out of pocket. To top it off he was trying to charge me $1000 more than another dentist for the same work. AND that dentist did not need a cat scan of my mouth to make his determination.
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:31 PM |
| |
|
mrsboss
my little love

Member since 12/09 5054 total posts
Name: Me
|
2nd opinion way different edited more questions
I also feel the same way aboit dentists. I've gone for 2nd and 3rd opinions in the past.
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:33 PM |
| |
|
MarisaK
HELLO Manolo !!

Member since 5/06 14562 total posts
Name: Marisa
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
Now that the 2nd guy examined you, I'd ask / tell him about the first guy's reccomendation and your supposed 8 cavities.
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:34 PM |
| |
|
kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!
Member since 8/07 12475 total posts
Name: Keri
|
Re: 2nd opinion way different edited more questions
I recently had a similar situation. I went to a dentist on recommendation from my SIL- I got a free exam and xrays (she also got credit for my visit). I loved the office but there were a few problems- they couldn't get me in for the intensive cleaning they said I needed until mid July (the was in early May) and after they checked with my insurance they said I would be responsible for $$$$ out of pocket for 2 "tiny" fillings. It seemed weird to me until I realized I had never checked if they were in network or not. They weren't. I found it strange that they never mentioned that they didn't accept my insurance- even after I questioned the high costs for routine procedures.
I went to DH's dentist where they did the cleaning right then and there and he said I have great teeth and to keep up the good work.
The 1st office was very shiny and new and the staff were all really friendly- the 2nd office was older and the staff barely said a word to me. I never mentioned that I had gone just a month earlier to another dentist.
I have to go back in 6 months- we'll see what happens then.
Message edited 6/9/2015 3:55:08 PM.
|
Posted 6/9/15 3:52 PM |
| |
|