My dentist is lying to me

illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
Well maybe not. I went in to get my teeth cleaned a few days ago, and they said they found a cavity. Whatever, fine by me. I don?t brush as good or as regular as I should, so the cavity was expected. No problem. What puzzled me is that I never even knew I had it. No pain, no nothing. I looked in the mirror when I got home at the tooth in question and I couldn?t see anything. So it donned on me that he could be lying to me. And I thought of all the other scams that they could pull. Honestly, how hard would it be to convince people they need braces, or some teeth pulled? They told me, when I was 15, that I need to get them now or else when I am 30 ill look like I grew up in Britain. We didn?t have the money so I never got them. Either way, in 12 years, I?m sure something better will come along. My teeth are fine now, three years later. What if my dentist was taking money for every patient he sent to the orthodontics??

Now, I don?t claim to know better then them. But I do see how a dentist could easily rack up money by persuading patients go through with expensive procedures.
 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
0
0
Originally posted by: illusion88
Well maybe not. I went in to get my teeth cleaned a few days ago, and they said they found a cavity. Whatever, fine by me. I don?t brush as good or as regular as I should, so the cavity was expected. No problem. What puzzled me is that I never even knew I had it. No pain, no nothing. I looked in the mirror when I got home at the tooth in question and I couldn?t see anything. So it donned on me that he could be lying to me. And I thought of all the other scams that they could pull. Honestly, how hard would it be to convince people they need braces, or some teeth pulled? They told me, when I was 15, that I need to get them now or else when I am 30 ill look like I grew up in Britain. We didn?t have the money so I never got them. Either way, in 12 years, I?m sure something better will come along. My teeth are fine now, three years later. What if my dentist was taking money for every patient he sent to the orthodontics??

Now, I don?t claim to know better then them. But I do see how a dentist could easily rack up money by persuading patients go threw with expensive procedures.

Uh, cavities dont cause pain or anything unless they become infected or hit a nerve.
 

Bootprint

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2002
9,847
0
0
Problem caught the cavity while it's small and just starting to work it's way throught the enamel.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Same thing happened to me. The dentist told me recently I had a small cavity, but it didnt hurt at all. You cant always see a cavity by yourself, and it wont necessarily hurt. If you are not sure, you could try getting a 2nd opinion, and go and see another dentist if you can.
 

illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
Originally posted by: tontod
Same thing happened to me. The dentist told me recently I had a small cavity, but it didnt hurt at all. You cant always see a cavity by yourself, and it wont necessarily hurt. If you are not sure, you could try getting a 2nd opinion, and go and see another dentist if you can.

well its not like I care that much. I trust my dentist and hope that he isnt going to drill and fill my teeth for no real reason. But he could.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
My dentist once told me I needed my wisdom teeth pulled out, so I paid for it, went under GA and got it done. Then I told my mom and she said I'd already had it done as a kid! I called my dentist and was like "Doc hollywood, wtf you ripped me off, dude?!", and he said that's the price I have to pay to look like a star. I see him every 6 months and my teeth look like a custom set of ivories.
 

AccruedExpenditure

Diamond Member
May 12, 2001
6,960
7
81
Originally posted by: Skoorb
My dentist once told me I needed my wisdom teeth pulled out, so I paid for it, went under GA and got it done. Then I told my mom and she said I'd already had it done as a kid! I called my dentist and was like "Doc hollywood, wtf you ripped me off, dude?!", and he said that's the price I have to pay to look like a star. I see him every 6 months and my teeth look like a custom set of ivories.

WTF!
 

ggavinmoss

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2001
4,798
1
0
Originally posted by: illusion88
Originally posted by: tontod
Same thing happened to me. The dentist told me recently I had a small cavity, but it didnt hurt at all. You cant always see a cavity by yourself, and it wont necessarily hurt. If you are not sure, you could try getting a 2nd opinion, and go and see another dentist if you can.

well its not like I care that much. I trust my dentist and hope that he isnt going to drill and fill my teeth for no real reason. But he could.

He could also tell you that you need a root canal, put you under general anesthesia, and teabag you. He probably won't, but he could.

Play the odds - get your damn cavity filled.

-geoff
 

Kyteland

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2002
5,747
1
81
Originally posted by: Skoorb
My dentist once told me I needed my wisdom teeth pulled out, so I paid for it, went under GA and got it done. Then I told my mom and she said I'd already had it done as a kid! I called my dentist and was like "Doc hollywood, wtf you ripped me off, dude?!", and he said that's the price I have to pay to look like a star. I see him every 6 months and my teeth look like a custom set of ivories.

Don't you know that you're in America now? You need to sue him for pain and suffering. ;)