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Cavity questions!!!

W

weiv0004

Senior member
I'm 24 years old, and prior to today, I've never had a cavity. I haven't been to the dentist in 2 or 3 years (yes I know, I'm stupid) and finally decided it was time. I don't have any particular tooth pain, except for the occasional sensitivity, but I was still a little nervous.

After I had the initial exam/cleaning by the dental assistant, I was pretty happy. She said repeatedly that I had "Beautiful teeth". Then the doctor comes in, quickly checks my teeth and agrees that they are "beautiful". Then he looks at my x-rays and says I've got 5 cavities!!!

He was able to show me 1 with a mirror, but said that the other 4 were between the teeth and was only able to identify them with the xrays.

Here's my question:

Should I get a second opinion or just go with it? I take good care of my teeth, brushing several times a day and flossing when I remember. It seems hard for me to believe that I've developed so many cavities, especially considering that I've given up soda in the past few years, as well as improved my diet.

Also, anyone have an idea of how much an exam for a 2nd opinion would cost? Insurance won't likely cover a 2nd exam so soon after the first.
 
Uh, get them filled... I have about 20 cavaties, with probably many more on the way. I also believe that I'm genetically cavity prone. My father has dozens as well. Not a big deal really.
 
get em filled.

I was in the same boat as you. I was 24 last year, never had braces, never had my wisdom teeth pulled, never had a cavity, you name it. Then I go in one day, and the doc says "You have 2 cavities". I was like "WTF, I have not one, but TWO?" I got them filled and with todays filling techniques, they can use the white stuff to fill (instead of the silver ugly crap) so you can't even tell that you have ever had a cavity.

edit: and lol @ second opinion
 
Wow, that dumb huh? Maybe I just desperately want to maintain my no cavity streak.

I watched a news story (granted it was on fox) a while back about someone who went to 5 different dentists and got 5 different diagnosis, ranging from "You need a root canal IMMEDIATELY" to "You'll be fine, remember to brush and floss".

I'm not saying the dentist is trying to screw me, but maybe he's erring on the side of overly cautious?

According to my mom, when I was quite young my dentist decided I needed a tooth pulled and recommended a surgeon. When I went to the surgeon, he said I was fine and didn't need any work done.
 
Originally posted by: weiv0004
Should I get a second opinion or just go with it?
Click to expand...

Just go with it. I had a similar situation a couple of years ago. I had zero cavities for the first 32 years of my life, then all of a sudden three showed up on a routine checkup. I had them filled, it's really not a big deal as TallBill said.
 
5 cavities!!! Damm, I hate to see how you scream inside you mind while the dentist drills into your teeths.
Click to expand...

hmm . . . Well thanks for the poorly written um . . . conolences?

On another note, I also found out that when I had my wisdom teeth pulled a few years back, they left a sizable piece of one in the jaw. Now I'm going to have to get chopped open again or run the risk of infection.

Maybe I should just have them all replaced with wooden dentures.
 
Originally posted by: weiv0004
5 cavities!!! Damm, I hate to see how you scream inside you mind while the dentist drills into your teeths.
Click to expand...

hmm . . . Well thanks for the poorly written um . . . conolences?

On another note, I also found out that when I had my wisdom teeth pulled a few years back, they left a sizable piece of one in the jaw. Now I'm going to have to get chopped open again or run the risk of infection.

Maybe I should just have them all replaced with wooden dentures.
Click to expand...
Don't be talking denture nonsense.

Do you floss regularly? I'd venture the answer is "no". Therefore you've developed decay between your teeth which is only viewable on an x-ray until they get massive and then you can view them by just looking in your mouth.

Did the Dentist point out the cavities to you on the x-rays? If not, call up and arrange for someone to show you the cavities. They are easily identified as gray areas on the interproximal (in between) areas of the teeth.

Pony up, and just get the cavities filled and quit thinking the Dentist is trying to screw you over.
 
Second opinion, <b>always</b>.
One dentist told me my first visit there that I had four.. several reasons to leave and a new dentist later, he took new x-rays and saw only one... so a second opinion is wise.

Good luck 🙂
 
Its not like getting cavities filled needlessly is a bad thing or anything like that, I mean what does it really matter, I have 1 or 2 cavities ever time I go to the dentist (every 6 months), so at my pace by the time I', your age I'll have had like 15, even my dad who brushes 3 times a day and flosses every day has had like 30. Maybe our dentist is just trying to screw us over, but well not really my problem since I have dental insurance and TBH regular cleanings hurt alot more than cavities IMO. At least with cavities your mouth is numb so you just feel weird pressures nd temperatures, when they tear my gums apart for the cleaning I can feel all that plus the undgodly pain too.
 
The reason they are between your teeth is because you only floss "when I remember". Nasty stuff gets caught in there for days slowly decaying and eating away at your enamel.

Get 'em filled and start flossing at least once a day.
 
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