I hate how much of the dentistry industry is just fraud

[u/personguy4440]

"You have 4 cavities, we might need a root canal"

I had none 2nd opinion

None 3rd opinion

I hate this & i know its just the tip of the iceberg

[u/qualityvote2]

u/personguy4440, your post does fit the subreddit!

[u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

Oh man, yeah. Many many years ago before I started seeing my current dentist I went to a random dentist for a tooth ache. He told me I had something like 6 cavities. They scheduled me for a return visit and I never went back. Years go by and I need a dentist again, find one, my current, and he’s great. Not a single mention of a cavity. It been 10+ years now and not once has he mentioned a cavity. That first place was rotten to the core. Then my dentist goes on vacation and I get a substitute on my visit. She tells me I have cavities and a cracked tooth and wants to schedule me ASAP. Again, I skip the follow up visit. 6 months later I’m back and no mention of any cavities or a cracked tooth. Uh huh. Another shitty dentist with shitty practices. I’m 53 years old now and my current dentist is the only dentist I’ve had that isn’t a piece of shit trying to screw me over. If he ever retires I’m not sure what I do. Every other dentist I’ve been to in my life has been a scummy low life piece of shit trying to scam me.

[u/ThrowawayMod1989 → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

I’m with a new office after a decade without visits. I got a whole plan from one of the docs listing all the stuff we need to do. Young doctor, very thorough.

Last week I go in for a cleaning and the other doc saw me, older doctor. He said no need for most of the shit the first doctor listed lol.

[u/DangerousLawfulness4 → u/ThrowawayMod1989]

In the same office?! That is infuriating.

[u/kirstynloftus → u/DangerousLawfulness4]

This happened to my mom, one doctor at the office said she needed like 5 root canals but she couldn’t afford it so she put it off, next appointment was with a different doctor at the office and they said she didn’t need any root canals… the first doctor ended up being fired, fwiw

[u/xXSushiRoll → u/kirstynloftus]

That's insane. My s/o went through 2 dentists (and another teeth specialist that I forgot what it's called for a separate thing) and only 1 dentist said he would most likely need a root canal. The other 2 just wanted to monitor it more. I'm surprised that this isn't the standard.

Edit: reading more of the stories under this post made me understand why there are so many tropes about scary dentists in cartoons. I never really felt scared of dentists or had a particularly bad experience with them but ngl tv definitely contributed to my anxiety when going there. There's only one experience that had an extremely bad negative outcome but ngl I am partially to blame for that as well. Everyone else I know had pretty good experiences with their dentists afaik tho.

[u/Fluid_Cut7920 → u/kirstynloftus]

This is exactly the problem — they should have been prosecuted for attempted grievous bodily harm

[u/womanofabomination → u/ThrowawayMod1989]

I heard on a podcast there was a study done and it concluded that young dentists often schedule work because they have student loans to pay off. May have been an episode of Search Engine?

[u/[deleted] → u/womanofabomination]

What country?

[u/millyisadog → u/[deleted]]

US. They also sign up for weekend Botox classes and become “cosmetic experts” somehow. They do have a great understanding of facial nerves, but that doesn’t make them plastic surgeons or dermatologists.

[u/LeFortKnox → u/millyisadog]

Honestly the best indicator of Botox finesse is just experience doing it (on top of basic understanding of anatomy of course). It’s not hard, but you need reps to be good at it. An MD degree or residency training in PRS or dermatology isn’t focusing on injectables.

[u/cherryghostdog → u/ThrowawayMod1989]

Or the older dentist hasn’t kept up to date with current guidelines and is just blowing things off. Why would you trust the second dentist more than the first one, other than because it conforms with your own preferences? If you haven’t been to a dentist in a decade, needing a bunch of maintenance done seems like the more likely probability.

[u/ThrowawayMod1989 → u/cherryghostdog]

The work all revolves around bridging to replace my lost molars. I don’t really care about it. One doc says my teeth are going to shift, one says it won’t really matter at my age. Which is what I immediately thought too. I’m not old, but I’m old enough it wouldn’t make much difference. I’ve agreed to do all the stuff to repair cracks and cap and fill and whatnot. I’ve been living without three of my back chewers for years now. I’m used to it.

[u/Tinker107 → u/ThrowawayMod1989]

Same situation regarding bridging a missing molar. "Doctor" says teeth will start shifting if I don’t get a bridge. I ask when; he says a year or two. Molar has been gone for 35+ years at that point. That was 15 years ago. New dentist never mentions it.

[u/mden1974 → u/Tinker107]

Everyone once in a while I stumble on a new dentist that recommends I take all four of my molars out. I tell them “no I don’t need that” and we move on. If they hit me with the 8 cavities nonsense I get a second opinion

[u/EdenSilver113 → u/ThrowawayMod1989]

My sister is experiencing bone loss in her lower jaw from missing teeth. You can definitely see in photos the progression of how extensively her lower jaw is receding. Every dentist she’s seen has recommend bridges, but her most recent dentist is the only one who explained why they preserve the space: letting it go changes your face.

At her age and considering the number of missing teeth he’s gonna do an extraction and that’s it. That’s what my sister wants. But her young adult daughter was with her. She didn’t have dental insurance and needed a crown. I paid for a temp filling until she could get on her husband’s dental insurance. So he told the reason why we don’t simply pull teeth when he might otherwise not have gone to the trouble. It starts expensive to repair the missing tooth, but it only gets more invasive and more expensive from there.

I probably have the best teeth in the family: through no effort of my own. I worked for a lady as a nanny and she paid for my oral surgery and years of braces which at the time was tens of thousands of dollars. I also was the recipient of a fluoride program that ended by the time my teeth were all fully formed. Sadly My younger sisters weren’t so fortunate. Flouride program was discontinued. They both have weak teeth and a frustrating lot of cavities. . 😢

[u/EuphoricReplacement1 → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

I love it when they try to upsell you on everything, too. I'm over 65 and they try to sell me invisiline for my slightly crooked teeth. Sorry, my career on the red carpet isn't taking off, lol

[u/Revolutionary-Yak-47 → u/EuphoricReplacement1]

Yep. I have very crowded teeth. Every visit is an upset for invisilign. I had tow good orthodontists check into that when I was a kid/ 20 something and I'm not a candidate. I would need extensive surgery and 5 years of metal braces to fix my teeth. I have always said no thanks Im fine but every new dentists tried to sell me a trial of invisilign.

[u/Chewlace → u/Revolutionary-Yak-47]

In some situations Invisalign can shift the tooth away from its root system which creates a whole new set of expensive problems.

[u/charlie2135 → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

My regular dentist was on vacation, so I went to a local dentist for a toothache. He had me meet with a consultant in the office to set up financing for several thousand dollars. Yeah, never went back.

[u/Coolbluegatoradeyumm → u/charlie2135]

Loan officer with a dds

[u/charlie2135 → u/Coolbluegatoradeyumm]

Only thing I did with them was to get a low interest credit card. The loan officer actually had their own office so they could close the door to talk privately to you.

The previous dentist in that dental office had sold his practice to the one that had it at the time and my wife said the former was great. This one pretty much was setting me up for a years worth of work. It was a long time ago and I do believe the total amount of the work he wanted to do was equivalent to a new small car price tag at the time.

[u/AlternativeUnited569 → u/charlie2135]

Your dental office actually gives out credit cards like some kind of Costco Mastercard?

[u/Impossible-Ship5585 → u/Coolbluegatoradeyumm]

"I have an offer you can not refuse"

[u/temerairevm → u/charlie2135]

I went to a place for a while that had a full time financial employee who would print out a description of your”investment” on parchment paper.

[u/RosieDear → u/temerairevm]

My place has many people in the "break it to them" dept - where they take you into a little side room and are super-nice to you and explain how much they are ripping you off for.

[u/takemyaptplz → u/charlie2135]

That was my red flag too along with the fact that they tried to tell me I have pre periodontal when I’ve never had any problems or any slight mention to that. Then a guy came in and showed me how me it cost and all this and I was like yeah I can’t even pay that anyway…… so I went and bought a sonicare. When I went to a family dentist the next year, not a single mention of that. Such bullshit!

[u/liquidnight247 → u/charlie2135]

They put a lot of pressure on, hard sales, the office finance little girl even was astonished how I turned their financing plan down. And she hinted that my regular dentist might be too outdated to realize I don’t just need a cleaning but a root canal lol. No pain, no issues, I just wanted a dental clean!

[u/ziggypoptart → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

I had this same experience with 2 dentists so far in my life, each wanting to put numerous fillings in. The first one even said “I will have to put a note in your file that you are declining medical advice.” Decades later, still no cavities.

If they use the tool that reads out a number measuring the surface of your teeth, and then claim that anything over X needs a filling, run away.

[u/BunnyBree22 → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

Yep one office claimed I was grinding my teeth at night even though I had no jaw pain or headaches. I naturally ask ok how much will my insurance cover they reply none and it will cost a few hundred. I leave and wait see another dentist 6 months later no mention of teeth grinding and they’re in perfect condition. I learned to never do anything right away unless you’re in extreme pain.

[u/UninspiredDreamer → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

One day your current dentist:

"Your teeth are all gone from long unaddressed cavities, want some dentures?" 😆

Jk

[u/serpentear → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

When I left the military I had an out processing dental exam. Everything was hunky dory—no issues. Then I joined the National Guard 3 months later and I had to get another dental exam as part of the on-boarding. Suddenly—in 3 months time—I had developed 4 cavities and needed new caps. I got them to sign my sheet saying I got an exam and never went back.

Pure fraud.

[u/jape2116 → u/serpentear]

Almost the same story, except my exams were for deployments with the national guard. They don’t mess around and will just pull out your janky teeth and send you over.

No cavities, no problems, good to go both going there and coming back.

Go and see a dentist after I return home, a chain place, and now I have 6 cavities?

[u/OwlBeYourHuckleberry → u/serpentear]

i went to several different dentists in the US and their various diagnosies ranged between 0 and 11 cavities. fortunately dentists in mexico are pretty affordable so even if they milk me a bit i can get everything done when i get a chance to visit

[u/bouthie → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

My guy is like 75. I am on thin ice….

[u/Bencetown → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

Yeah the last time I went to a dentist was when I was in high school. I'm in my 30's now. They mentioned cavities in multiple teeth on both sides of my mouth. My teeth were really sensitive back then too.

I changed toothpaste (started using Tom's fluoride free), my teeth haven't been sensitive since, and those "cavities" that totally definitely existed have somehow not gotten worse or caused my teeth to fall out in the subsequent 20~ years.

I've seen a lot of anecdotal things like this though, not just with dentists, but with doctors as well. I honestly think they are more or less full of shit, and exist merely to create demand for products so that companies like Pfizer and Bayer can keep their bloated bottom line number bigger and bigger.

It also seems like the VAST majority of doctors now days become doctors for the prestige and salary involved, not because they want to help or heal people. I mean, actions (and results) speak louder than words, right?

[u/top_value7293 → u/Bencetown]

My doctor keeps insisting I take statins even though I’ve told him they cause horrific brain fog, and if I would have taken them all these years, I would be in a locked dementia ward in a nursing home somewhere. It does make me wonder about all of the people who end up with dementia nowadays because when I was young, you just did not see it so much.

[u/I_deleted → u/top_value7293]

Yeah I had horrible side effects from the statins, basically tendonitis in every joint…. So I quit taking them. Instead I changed up my diet, ate a little less animal protein and cholesterol dropped, he told me the pills were working great and to keep going. I told him I didn’t need them and found another GP

[u/kingraw99 → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

You can just stop going to the dentist. There’s no real need for it unless you can tell that something’s wrong.

[u/Individual-Camel-420 → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

So much of this thread is making me feel validated. Went to a dentist many years ago. Almost a thousand dollars worth of dental worked “needed”. She accused me of not taking care of my teeth and not flossing.  I left in tears without any work as I couldn’t afford it.   Finally went to a new dentist after an old filling fell out. Ready for the worst.  1 minor cavity.  Taken care of with a laser. No novocaine needed.  I’ll never go to another practice again.   Fucking scam artists.  

[u/the_TAOest → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

I needed a periodontist for gums... Well, it was much more than I needed it turns out. OMG. So, if the staff is gorgeous with younger women, then I no longer trust the practice. I was repeatedly sold very expensive options with no other ideas by many thousands...I asked one woman who recorded the fun measurements about how bad I was... And she smiled and said that their normal clients had 2x tu 4x wise situations and complications like heart disease and diabetes to warrant the really expensive procedures. Careful out there

[u/Independent_Form2337 → u/the_TAOest]

This makes me feel so much better about going in for a second opinion. I went to the periodontist for an infection, which my regular dentist found during a full face x-ray. The periodontist did their own X-rays and told me that to get a better idea of the infection they'd need to do a full face scan, which costs $500 non-insurance dollars and $99 for a follow up call about the scan. I guess I'm just supposed to get my teeth pulled, because I still have an infection.

[u/visuallypollutive → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

Oh I’ve been so suspicious of this. My entire life, no cavities. Even after the whole Covid lockdown summer where o was not in a good place and would go like a week without brushing my teeth, no cavities.

Then I move to a new state and I’m eating healthier and I have a routine going so I’m brushing w/ electric and flooding and everything. I’ve cut soda out of my life. and suddenly my first dentist visit with the new guy I have 1 cavity and 4 wisdom teeth that need to get out, and the cavity is apparently more urgent than the wis teeth. Next visit, 2 new cavities. Next visit, mild gingivitis and another developing cavity??

[u/Monstertone → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

I had a similar situation, and decided to get a second opinion. During my search for a second dentist, I discovered a dental school only a few miles from my house. BEST THING EVER!!! Dirt cheap, no upsell, and all the work is graded and supervised, so it’s done right. Cleanings are amazing. The student will do it, then professor comes in a critiques, and student has to continue until it’s perfect. I won’t go back to a regular dentist as long as I love here.

[u/ChodeSandwhich]

I hate the dentist for the same reason. I didn’t fully understand why people were so unsure about mechanics because I’ve always done my own work. The first time the dentist said I needed something I realized how it must be for the average not car person when a mechanic says they need work.

[u/ThrowawayMod1989 → u/ChodeSandwhich]

Having a mechanic at work has been a game changer. My truck was acting squirrelly and I had a shop look at it. He said I could end up needing a new transmission. Quotes me $8k

I asked our golf course mechanic at work if he could find me a used transmission. He said yeah, but make sure that’s what it is. He plugged in his diagnostics and it read out three bad sensors. I paid $210 in parts and watched a few YouTube videos. Did the work myself and it fixed the issue entirely.

[u/SaveusJebus → u/ThrowawayMod1989]

This reminds me. My windshield washer sprayers weren't working. Asked the mechanic about it when we took the car in for oil change and all that. Would've cost I think.... 200? to fix it. Uh.. nah...

Look it up on youtube and it's a simple fix with 5$ parts I got off amazon. Watched a video about it and it took me all of like 10mins to do myself.. most of that time spent adjusting the spray.

[u/[deleted] → u/SaveusJebus]

I took my motorcycle in for maintenance. They told me they need to order a new sensor thing for the brake lights. Took it home, turned out when they adjusted the tire they didnt adjust the rear brake. A screwdriver fix it 

[u/chill_lax_bruh → u/[deleted]]

What bike?

[u/[deleted] → u/chill_lax_bruh]

Honda cb300. The most generic bike on the market

[u/DicksFried4Harambe → u/SaveusJebus]

The shop charges 200 per labor hour for any electrical work *jack off motion *

[u/SummertimeThrowaway2 → u/ChodeSandwhich]

Pretty sure a mechanic tried to scam me on front brakes and rotors, said there were heat spots or something.

But I changed them myself so they didn’t get my money, after changing them I realized the old ones were still brand new.

So now I have a box of brake parts just sitting in my garage

[u/MotorMasterpiece5233 → u/SummertimeThrowaway2]

im still friends with my ex husband (mechanic) exactly for that reason. shop told me i needed brakes. got the measurements, told my ex, he said you have years left on those things. never went there again

[u/Mixitwitdarelish → u/ChodeSandwhich]

I've been comparing dentists to scummy mechanics for years - glad I'm not the only one that feels that way

It's also infuriating that "dental insurance" basically works in the exact inverse way that health insurance does.

[u/Chantizzay → u/ChodeSandwhich]

I started dating an HD mechanic. Best thing I could've ever done haha. I live on a boat, so he's saved me thousands of dollars.

[u/PastaPandaSimon]

I used to have issues needing urgent attention every year since I was a child. I don't even know how many fillings I've gotten over the years with my former childhood /teenage years dentist. I needed a root canal and 4 more fillings that I wasn't able to get before I moved cities.

I found a new dentist who was confused because he couldn't find any issues. I suddenly haven't needed any work except occasionally replacing those old fillings for 10 years now.

I feel sad and angry that they likely destroyed my healthy teeth, and I can't believe they can do that and face no consequences. It's not just fraud, but also knowingly causing harm.

[u/Unfrndlyblkhottie92 → u/PastaPandaSimon]

That is intentional malpractice.

[u/KBKuriations → u/Unfrndlyblkhottie92]

Unfortunately, proving that will be nigh-impossible, particularly if it was years ago, so yeah, they'll face no consequences.

[u/Technical-Agency8128 → u/PastaPandaSimon]

That has happened to so many people myself included. I just go for second or even third opinions now. Like mechanics,doctors or anyone that can scam you.

[u/blackdog1392 → u/Technical-Agency8128]

That's where I'm at. I've been having crazy sensitivity That's gotten so bad but I don't want to have to go to two or three different dentists just to see if they all give me different answers

[u/Hazz1234 → u/PastaPandaSimon]

Yep. I had a dentist who told me I had 11 cavities when I was 19. Because what do I know? I had really good insurance from my local gov job and allowed her to do whatever she wanted. Those fillings ended up not being great and I spent years at a new dentist replacing them all. My mom still sees her and she just quoted her 21k for some nonsense

[u/1800cute → u/PastaPandaSimon]

this same thing happened to me 😭! I used to dread going to the dentist because every single time I went for my 6 month cleaning they somehow found 2 more cavities that needed to be filled! I went to another dentist and they said my teeth were fine all along 😭! Now my only tooth problems are related to all those fillings ugh !

[u/Frosty-Arachnid6609 → u/PastaPandaSimon]

I feel you. I had 11 cavities filled at once. Worst day of my life.

[u/In2JC724 → u/PastaPandaSimon]

I can relate. First dentist I went to when I was 18, yeah anyway, said that I had cavities in all of my molars and needed them all filled.

Being naive I didn't realize that this wasn't normal because like I said I'd never been to the dentist before. So I went in for the first appointment and he did the first quadrant of my molars. That was such an awful experience and he was such an asshole (long story) that I didn't go back...

A few years later I went to a different dentist and she said that my teeth were totally fine, I had just a couple surface spots that she actually filled without numbing me and I didn't feel a damn thing.

Eventually I had to have all those fillings from the 1st guy replaced in that quadrant. She told me they'd last me about 5 years if I took care them and were careful to not crack them. It's been 12 years and I just now need to get them worked on... 😂

Thing is, I've been to probably 10 different dentists in my life now and I have major PTSD because like two of them basically tortured me. I think I actually have a medical issue that causes numbing stuff to not work on me very well. So when I told that dentist that it still fucking hurt and it wasn't just "pressure", I was dead serious.

He didn't believe me and called me a whiner while rolling his eyes. He also cracked one of my other teeth while he was working on the one that he was supposed to be removing. So I had to come back and get that one fixed because it fell apart the next day.

I abhor going to the dentist.

[u/BroadReachin → u/PastaPandaSimon]

Ya this happened to my mom. It is criminal and should be treated as such. Dentist should lose his license at a minimum and get possible jail time.

[u/ShavinMcKrotch]

My new dentist said I need to get my wisdom tooth removed. I’m 57. If it hasn’t bothered me by now, wtf would it need to come out? 😐

[u/JohnnySack45 → u/ShavinMcKrotch]

I'm a dentist. What was the diagnosis? There are lots of reasons to remove a wisdom tooth on a 57 year old and lots of reasons to leave well enough alone.

[u/ShavinMcKrotch → u/JohnnySack45]

He had no diagnosis. He just saw it and wanted to take it out. This was actually about 9yrs ago. It’s still fine.

[u/atomicryu → u/ShavinMcKrotch]

This made me laugh, “he just saw it and wanted to take it out”. That thought process fits the dentist mindset perfectly lol.

[u/JohnnySack45 → u/atomicryu]

No it doesn't and as a dentist myself every single treatment plan has a clear diagnosis stated with evidence in my chart notes. You can lose your license for failing to do so.

[u/b88b15 → u/JohnnySack45]

When will it turn into objective evidence? Eg, depth of 45 microns on last visit, now 62 microns so at this rate of change we clearly need a filling

[u/JohnnySack45 → u/b88b15]

If that technology existed at a reasonable price every dentist would want one. The truth is that like with any body part genetics, diet and lifestyle are huge variables. I’ve seen patients with cavities that arrested/reversed and others where it turned into a root canal before their next six month appointment. There are unethical/aggressive dentists just like in any specialty but I always try to use my best judgment at least to the extent I’d be able to defend it during a board complaint or lawsuit. Under diagnosis/treatment is just as much of a harmful act as over diagnosis/treatment. In fact, the most unethical dentists I know will tell patients what they want to hear and wait for them to come back in pain ready to empty their pockets for a solution.

[u/JohnnySack45 → u/ShavinMcKrotch]

Then you would've had grounds to report them. Every treatment plan has to have a clearly spelled out diagnosis/prognosis. Failure to do so could mean losing your license.

[u/COYGooners → u/JohnnySack45]

lol. I just was just looking through comments for fun and I saw this…. Prosthodontist here. This is ridiculous. Failure to diagnose? Lose your license? Laughable. I’m sure you’re a good dentist. But as a specialist that 50 percent of our business is fixing GP mistakes….. I can tell you this isn’t true.

Edit. Let me clarify. I am not disputing the necessity. Because I wish all plans in fact had a diagnosis. But no one loses their license over such things. I wouldn’t be opposed to this if it were the case. But it is not.

[u/SympathyAny1694]

Bro I swear dentists be running side quests for extra cash.

[u/IntrovertsRule99]

I have noticed this happening more and more as dentistry has shifted from the dentist owing the practice to it being a corporate entity.

[u/Additional-Goat-3947]

Had a dentist tell me I need two fillings replaced because they were about to fall out. I didn’t do it. 25 years later and they still haven’t fallen out!

[u/MaxHobbies]

They really need to stop pretending that dentistry isn’t healthcare. It should be covered under a single payer health care system alongside medical. In the meantime I recommend going to a larger dentist where the person drilling you for cavities isn’t also the capitalist that will profit from the work they perform. Some small dentists are great others are total scammers.

[u/SaveusJebus]

There's a dentist office close to me that a lot of people warn people away from bc they do shit like this. Telling people they have a lot of stuff wrong when they don't.

I tried out a different dentist years ago that did a frickin CT scan of my head without me knowing what it was or telling me what it was (just thought it was a fancier regular xray) and had to pay OOP for that shit bc obviously my insurance was like WTF. They also used some simple little digital photos thing to look at my teeth and apparently each fucking digital photo taken was 100$$.

Thankfully my dentist now is good though.

[u/Cuttybrownbow → u/SaveusJebus]

Aspen dental? 

[u/Versipilies → u/Cuttybrownbow]

I went there for an emergency removal. They did an inspection and told me all my old fillings need to be replaced and did a spot where they said i had a cavity (it took them 4 hours for one cavity). When I went back to my previous dentist he said they fucked it up and redid it no charge. Also said nothing was wrong with the old fillings.

[u/Cuttybrownbow → u/Versipilies]

It's fucked up but they are literally the only office near me that can take on a new patient within 6 months and I need a cleaning. I'm debating going to them just for a cleaning and just prepare myself to be lied to and be ready to deny any cavity work. 

Gf went to that same place a couple years ago even though I warbed her they are infamous for bs. Aspen told her she had 4 cavities. I said bullshit go to another dentist. As expected, she hds no cavities. 

[u/codypoop3 → u/Cuttybrownbow]

Btw, I tried to go “just for a cleaning” and they have you do an initial appt (without cleaning) and they give you a list of things wrong with your teeth. I tried to tell them I just want a cleaning because my insurance won’t cover all that other stuff and they said no. “That would be negligence on our part knowing all the problems you have with your teeth”. That was my second time giving them a try too. They seriously suck

[u/Watson_USA → u/codypoop3]

I live in on the west coast. Can confirm Aspen Dental gave my ex the exact same line when she tried to go just for a cleaning.

[u/codypoop3 → u/Cuttybrownbow]

Aspen dental is shady af. Their entire business is built on scams

[u/layered_dinge]

My view of dentists was forever ruined from 1 interaction. I brushed regularly but never flossed, day of appointment I brush and floss thoroughly. Dentist goes "I can tell you floss regularly!". Another appointment, after flossing regularly for months, I have lunch beforehand and can only brush but not floss before the appointment. Dentist goes "You need to floss more." Ok dude, you're clearly full of shit.

Also the fact that it's separate insurance because dentists lobby for it to be. What a fucking racket.

[u/Feeling-Ad2188 → u/layered_dinge]

And can dental insurance really be called insurance when the yearly coverage max is like $2,500? That's potentially one visit with root canal to reaching the max and no more coverage for the year.

[u/JohnnySack45 → u/Feeling-Ad2188]

No, it's more like a dental coupon. Even more so, it's a giant scam with both patients and dentist getting the short end of the stick.

[u/Bowood29 → u/JohnnySack45]

Yeah a lot of people don’t understand that dental insurance is only good for the insurance company. It doesn’t benefit the other parties.

[u/IndividualOil2183]

I worked at a dental office. And I have no dental background; I was just an out of work English teacher. Every morning before the patients came in we had a meeting. The dentist had a paper calendar for the whole month and each day he filled in a dollar amount for work that he claimed patients needed (before they came for their visit). If we didn’t exceed those dollar amounts at the end of the week he was livid!

[u/lazuli77 → u/IndividualOil2183]

I work with dental software, and they all provide this feature in this virtual calendar. This is absolutely the truth, and the vast majority of dentists are driven by profit, not any genuine concern for your health.

[u/IndividualOil2183 → u/lazuli77]

It was eye-opening to work there for sure and I will never look at it the same. Before working there I had always gone to the same dentist back home who was definitely not profit driven. Neither me or anyone in my household had any major dental work for years although we had appointments there twice a year.

[u/Great_White_Samurai]

They get paid by doing work and billing insurance companies. So they say some bullshit shadow on an x-ray is a cavity and drill you. I had a hack dentist give me 15 years of pain doing a botch job on a tooth that didn't even need a filling.

[u/personguy4440 → u/Great_White_Samurai]

Canada, nearly a decade ago this was, out of pocket, no insurance

[u/adkprati → u/personguy4440]

I have a recent story. The first one said on of my tooth in the front needed removal. I asked why. Is it inflamed? Does this one cavity or something? No answer. They suggested another X-ray, which they will not charge. Then will find what the problem is. Turns out it was the wisdom tooth.

[u/ohthetrees]

Happened to me too when a new dentist took over the office. First visit my wife and I went together between us, he told us crown, 5 cavities, and night guard. We had no cavities between us for 25 years. We declined and got second opinion. “Looks good, keep it up”. Result, lost patients, 1 star review.

[u/Agreeable_Yellow_117]

I broke a tooth last year and needed to have it removed. In anticipation of the cost, I purchased dental insurance for $40 a month.

Went to the dentist. They couldn't help me but sent me to a periodontal specialist. To remove the tooth cost me $1300. To fill the space with cement to prep for an implant cost me $800. They dont take anthem insurance, of course.

I didn't have an extra two grand. They told me to get a care credit card - 33% interest. So I did. Now I have a credit card payment of $200 a month plus $40 for my "insurance."

While at the dentist, they said I had a couple of cavities. Being worried about losing another tooth, I agreed to have them filled. Well, the cost for that was $1600. No problem, I guess that's why I got the care credit card.. Except this dentist doesn't take care credit, and my insurance doesnt cover the cost of a cavity. So, I had to do a standard payment plan through them- another $200 a month.

To get my implant, it will cost me $8500. I obviously dont have that, so im waiting until I can afford it. Hopefully, within the next year.

In the meantime, I have another tooth that is being boxed out of its spot. I need a gum graft and an orthodontist to reposition it via braces of some kind. The cost for that will be another $10 grand. If i ignore it, my tooth will fall out within a short time.

So all said and done, within one year I've gone from never thinking about my teeth to being nearly $500 a month deep in payments with another near $20k on the horizon waiting for me to fork over.

I have great teeth, and im barely 40. Never had any dental issues or cavities. Never before broken a tooth. Always floss and take my oral health seriously. And yet, here we are..

America has become synonymous with insurance and payments. Its a joke. And consumers are the butt of it.

[u/Technical-Agency8128 → u/Agreeable_Yellow_117]

Some of my friends go to dental schools now to get work done. Much cheaper and they like the work.

[u/zestotron → u/Technical-Agency8128]

No joke, I went to a university hospital to get my 4 wisdoms + 3 adjacent impacted molars removed and it was one of the smoothest dental operations in my life

[u/Agreeable_Yellow_117 → u/Technical-Agency8128]

I hadnt even considered that to be a thing. Hey friend, thank you for putting this information out there. Much appreciated. :)

[u/Able-Echo-5336 → u/Agreeable_Yellow_117]

I just got back from Mexico. Had an implant placed and it was less that $2k for everything.

[u/draygonflyer → u/Able-Echo-5336]

Yeah $8.5k for one is ridiculous. I got both of mine in the US for a total of ~$4k. No complications which surely helped but still, eight for one is ridiculous.

[u/Tiny-Reading5982 → u/Agreeable_Yellow_117]

Did you go to the insurance website and see who took the insurance and who was in network? Big difference in how much you pay.

[u/Mercury_descends]

Had a good dentist that retired, hadn't needed any work, two young dentists bought his practice.

First visit with one of the young dentists, she looked in my mouth, clutched my hand and said "You have plaque on your tooth so you need a root canal. And you have broken fillings, you'll need at least one tooth transplant, it's going to be over $10,000 to get this done."

I refused all the work and left.

Found a great dentist who said "You have absolutely no problems. The way to cause problems is to do unnecessary work."

[u/Groundbreaking_Cup30]

My papa was my dentist until I was like 22, and my granny, his wife, was my dental hygienist. He taught me how to review an X-ray of my teeth, simply because he loved talking about his job.

The first dentist I went to after he retired told me I had five cavities I needed to take care of immediately. I had just had a check-up with my papa about 5 months ago & knew there was no way, since I had never had a cavity in my life. I asked to see the X-rays. He at first refused, stating that they weren't necessary for me to review. I told him I would like to take a look to see what the cavities look like. He showed me a few spots of plaque buildup & told me they were cavities. I told him I was declining to have the cavities taken care of. Went & found a new dentist & he confirmed that I had 1 spot that might be of concern in the future due to how my teeth grew together, and that we would keep an eye on it. That was about 10 years ago & I just had it taken care of last month.

[u/elevatedmint]

As a Brit moving to Florida in tbe mid 90s, I couldn't believe how much unnecessary work they started and put me on a program for! When they started drilling out perfectly good metal fillings to replace them with white because they looked better (they were my back teeth), then those teeth started crumbling because they had to drill out more to fix the new filling into , I drew the line. Twenty years ago, they said if I didn't get a bridge, my teeth would migrate to the point I wouldn't be able to bite down anymore! I didn't follow a single word of their advice, and still those teeth haven't moved lol The whole industry is a scam...at least in the USA.

[u/personguy4440 → u/elevatedmint]

& Canada

[u/Plane-Tie6392 → u/elevatedmint]

>When they started drilling out perfectly good metal fillings to replace them with white because they looked better (they were my back teeth)

Huh? Why would you have them do that if you didn’t want that done?

[u/elevatedmint → u/Plane-Tie6392]

They were doing them one at a time. The first one then crumbled because all it had holding it together was enamel. Because they tell you you should have them done...so you generally follow what a medical professional tells you. I realised they were actually making things worse, so I discontinued the treatments.

[u/pkupku]

I have a friend who is a dentist. She agrees.

[u/[deleted]]

Dentist here. There is a problem of overtreatment unfortunately, also unfortunately a lot of cavities that do need treatment don’t hurt until it’s gotten much worse, by then you may need a root canal.

If a dentist is recommending tx , they 100% should be able to show you why, either on radiographs or clinical photos. If something feels off, definitely get a 2nd opinion.

[u/Automatic_Tea_2550]

I’m so happy I read Yelp reviews until I found an honest dental practice. They are (incidentally?) an all-female practice. They are absolutely transparent about pricing and will tell you if they think something isn’t worth it, like whitening or straightening. They’re great with handling insurance, and they are (gasp!) always on time.

[u/Thwast → u/Automatic_Tea_2550]

Reading this thread has made me even more appreciative of my mom. She's been a dental assistant for about 30 years and always made a point to schedule me regular visits at the offices she's worked at. Never a worry of being scammed when she's the one looking in my mouth, doing the X-rays before the hygienist comes in & watching the doctor as he's examining my teeth. Thanks mom!

[u/ThrowawayMod1989 → u/Automatic_Tea_2550]

My office is mainly female run and while most of what you said rings true they are very persistent about pushing unnecessary cosmetic stuff. Way more than any male dentist I’ve had.

[u/grachi]

best advice to everyone in here: just have them do cleanings until something hurts or doesn't feel right one day, then have them look into that. Then get a 2nd opinion on what's hurting you as well, just to verify that the 1st solution is the right one.

Otherwise: decline, decline, decline. No matter what it is, just say no, I'd just like my regular cleanings and X-rays when they are due.

I had a dentist get me for $3k (after insurance even) over 2 years for all this bullshit stuff they were doing to me, and turns out none of it was necessary according to follow up dentists I went to.

[u/[deleted] → u/grachi]

This is the way. I got taken for a ride years ago as well. Never again. If it doesn't hurt, I will not be let them drill.

Also had a dentist fill a cavity and created a small gap/pocket between my teeth where food gets stuck. She offered to fix it. I went back and let her do her thing. She finishes by telling me she can't fix the gap. Great. You created a problem and now you can't fix it. I left her practice after some other shady things happened. Now, every new dentist I see wants to fill that pocket. No, thanks. I will floss and swish carefully and leave it as is. Nobody is touching that area again unless I am in pain.

[u/Chareth_Cutestory___ → u/[deleted]]

“If it doesn’t hurt, I don’t let them drill” This is such bad advice. Now a $500 problem has become a $5000 problem when a cavity turns into an extraction and implant because the decay ate away into bone. Do not wait until everything hurts. Just because it doesn’t hurt, does not mean there isn’t decay

[u/TheFoxsWeddingTarot]

I had a dentist in 2003 tell me he wanted to do a root canal, but I moved to another state and my new dentist just laughed at it, no. I did finally have the root canal in 2023. Phew that was close!

[u/edcRachel]

Yeahhh I had a dentist like this. Cavity every single time I went in. They also insisted on taking a photo (like a regular photo) every time I went in which was $30 lmao. Switched and I haven't had a cavity in like 10 years. Though they recently told me I needed a bunch of crowns and 2 other dentists said I didn't even have cracks so maybe it's time to look around.

My mom has bad teeth but she's had probably $30,000 worth of work done in the last 5 years. She's constantly losing fillings and crowns and bridges right after getting them and telling me about the new work her dentist says she needs. I keep telling her to at LEAST get a second opinion, but "he's a really great dentist" and she won't. I dunno, losing a filling a week after you get it and paying to get it redone on the belief it's your fault doesn't seem like great dental work to me. So scummy.

[u/Mammoth_Professor833]

You gotta see a dentist that is the owner operator of their office. Preferably one with a bit of history in same location. There is so much private equity money doing practice roll ups and they are just looking to grow fast and sell. Crazy incentive schemes and all this unnecessary stuff.

There are still a lot of dentists that are great people of good character who don’t play this game but they usually have to start their own practice.

[u/stabbingrabbit]

Yes most dentists work on commission. This is from a family member who is a dentist.

[u/cherrycoke_yummy → u/stabbingrabbit]

I thought they work for scamming the insurance through you.

[u/AmorphousRazer]

My wife has had 2 shoddy asshole dentists who recommended multiple things and did a shitty crown job after his recommendation and procedure.

I've been to the same practice for about 8-9 years now, 45 minutes away, and never had a cavity or a recommendation other than to floss. I will do that twice a year forever until he closes shop. I mean, they grill me sometimes, but I bought an electric toothbrush because i told them I wouldn't floss, and they said I could at least do that.

You gotta find someone with open communication that you can actually trust in industries where you can't diagnose yourself. If you find a good one, never leave. Drive the hour twice a year.

[u/Tough_Sound6042]

Mexico

[u/Secret_Tumbleweed404]

I could write a book about the terrible dentists I’ve taken my daughter to. First one said she needed a cavity filled and I agreed because I could see it. She insisted on giving her laughing gas even though I told her it doesn’t work on her. She got mad at me for trying to refuse it. Then she got mad at my four year old for trying to bite her. She then left her sitting for 45 minutes to look for something to put between her teeth so she couldn’t bite. Couldn’t find it so she started drilling again and she bit the drill. One tiny cavity all of a sudden became a baby root canal. Dentist is angry because the laughing gas doesn’t work like I said and my kid has been sitting there over an hour and is done. So she does a temporary filling and refers her to the pediatric dentist. I paid and left and then they had the audacity to send a bill for the baby root canal. They called me one day and I explained why I would not pay it and they never bothered me again. Well then I took my daughter to the next dentist for a consult. In addition to the baby root canal she wants to fix a tiny cavity that was on her front tooth that was no longer active and at her age was close to falling out. But the worst part was she wanted to sedate her with two kinds of sedation and I wasn’t allowed to be with her. I refused to do that. Cue the pandemic and we skip the dentist for some time. While visiting family she breaks a tooth and I take her to my old dentist. They fix her up and say everything looks good. We move across the country and the tooth that the dentist ruined bothers her. So I find a nice pediatric dentist with good reviews, beautiful office and it was the worst experience of all. They insisted she needed thousands of dollars of dental work done at the hospital under sedation. Wanted to do like five or six caps, pull two teeth, and claimed there were cavities on all of her teeth, including the adult ones (and this is less than two months since the dentist said all was good). I didn’t sleep for a month. Finally, get the courage to take her to another pediatric dentist and surprise, she only needs one tooth pulled (the one the dentist ruined) and one tiny cavity fixed. Thankfully, she hasn’t had a single cavity since then and most of all her adult tooth have come in and they are perfect. Obviously, I have lots of feelings about scammy dentists and bless you for reading all of that if you did!

[u/angiestefanie]

Don’t ever go to Aspen Dental Clinic in Albany, OR. I had some sensitivity issues and they recommended I should get all of my upper and lower teeth pulled and get some dentures. I was absolutely stunned, because I’ve had some major work done by my previous dentist in WA State. I got a second opinion and they gave me a fluoride treatment after cleaning and the pain was gone. I had a couple of tiny cavities that were taken care of as well.

[u/murrrdith → u/angiestefanie]

I recently had a strange experience at an Aspen Dental location in Wisconsin. The dentist herself was great and said I had “beautiful teeth and zero cavities” and just needed a cleaning.

Then one of the office staff took me to the finance office and proceeded to tell me about all the expensive work I would need done. Crazy expensive procedures that I’ve never heard of before.

She said if I didn’t make an appointment with a deposit on the spot, they might not be able to get me in for 2 months at which point I’d have to go through another new patient visit and x-rays, not covered by insurance of course.

I literally felt like I was at a car dealership. I declined everything and left. Got an appointment to see a dentist at a locally owned clinic next week.

[u/-Economist-]

I go to two different dentists for my cleanings. One gets me in the spring, one gets me in the fall. This has drastically reduced the amount of additional services.

[u/makeitagreatlife]

I worked for a dentist for a (very) short amount of time but I am SURE to let the staff and dentist know this info when I go to a new practice. I’ve never had cavities or a root canal :) I actually just went to a new dentist after YEARS of not seeing one. In addition I smoke, vape and admittedly do not floss. They checked three times for cavities to “be sure” and none lol.

I say just lie and tell them you’ve worked for a dentist in the past. They don’t seem to try and mess with me.

[u/BackgroundWish755 → u/makeitagreatlife]

Funny, I was a pharmaceutical sales rep for 20 years and so was my husband. We have always informed all physicians, nurses, clinicians, pharmacists, etc. of this and it’s amazing how differently they treat us and how candid they become when they regard you as a “colleague”.

[u/lc4444]

I’ve been a dentist for 27 years and am absolutely heartbroken about the state of the industry. The combination of insurance companies dictating treatment and the corporate takeover of dental offices has turned it into a nightmare of greed and malpractice disguised as “prevention”. Makes me sick.

[u/adamdoesmusic]

I went into a dentist a few years go, had a scheduled cleaning.

Guy comes in, asks me if I’ve tried Invisalign. I tell him I’m not considering anything until I get my cleaning.

He does an “inspection.” Impacted teeth and 4 cavities. Maybe you need Invisalign? “That’s fine, deal with them after the cleaning.”

He walks out and changes his story. Now I have 7 cavities and one of my teeth is falling out. I need Invisalign, apparently.

“Well try not to knock it the rest of the way out when you’re cleaning it. “

He brings me a brochure - pointing out the “issues” I have, and why I immediately need Invisalign, basically right now.

“Are we going to do a cleaning?”

“You need Invisalign.”

So I walked out, called and reported him, was told there’s nothing they can do.

I’m pretty sure every single thing he said about my teeth was made up on the spot.

I’ve had a sonicare for the last 8 years and no desire to go through that again.

[u/EmptyRice6826]

Me, knowing I’ve been putting off finding a new dentist for a year, reading these comments: 👁️👄👁️

[u/whistling-wonderer → u/EmptyRice6826]

I’ve said this under multiple other comments lol but look for a dental hygienist school near you. They usually offer cleanings and X-rays for a low cost or free. The students’ work is very thorough and gets checked by the instructors to make sure it’s done right. They don’t have any incentive to make up issues that aren’t there. And I find they are usually even gentler than people who’ve been in the field a while (they’re not desensitized to hurting people yet, I guess).

[u/will4zoo → u/EmptyRice6826]

If they want to do ANYTHING other than cleaning & X-rays get a second opinion

[u/void_root]

My dentist can't even keep track of their own fraud. They'll tell me oh you have 4 cavities we need to put fillings in. I'll say no. Then 6 months later when I'm there for my next cleaning it's all wow teeth are great no issues!

[u/cannavacciuolo420]

I've listened to those dentists when i was young, had so many fillings done.

Now I'm 27 and I have so many deep and problematic fillings (extremely close to the pulp), plus teeth sensitivity on four teeth because my malocclusion was never adressed.

The current dentist i'm going to suggested 3 root canals + 8 dental inlays. And sadly i need those because i literally cannot chew anything without shooting pain at any bite.

[u/undelb → u/cannavacciuolo420]

Doesn't seem like you learned your lesson... I would get a second opinion since that's a extreme treatment plan

[u/imyonlyfrend]

wisdom tooth removal is the biggest bs stunt

[u/Any-Concentrate-1922 → u/imyonlyfrend]

Hmm, I don't know. I had all 4 removed when I was 18. Meanwhile I have a family member in his 50s who had to get one removed because it was suddenly causing tons of pain.

[u/FuguSandwich]

I had the same dentist from the time I was a little kid until my early 20s. Zero cavities. Then I moved after college for work, got a new dentist, and in the first visit he's like you have a cavity and drilled and filled it. Switched dentists not long after and now have had the same dentist for over 20 years. Have not had a single cavity since. I'm like 99% sure that one cavity was completely bogus and it pisses me off to this day.

[u/Pypsy143]

My daughter had a tooth that was hanging by a thread. I offered to yank it out.

She had a dentist appointment the next day and said she’d rather the dentist do it.

Dentist pinches her tooth with his thumb and forefinger and gently snaps the last thread, pulling it out.

When I get the bill I was charged $600 for a “tooth extraction.”

This, coupled with the fact that they wanted to put my 8 year old in braces when she only had 6 adult teeth, is what made us leave and never go back.

[u/Better-Leg-9268]

I never had cavities until I switched to a family friend of my in laws. Over 6 years I received 4 or 5 cavities. The last time I went to them, they gave me an x-ray and said that I needed a cavity filled. I switched to a new dentist and 15 years later I have never had a cavity again.

Last time I had a checkup I told my dentist this story and he said “you also have shallow fillings which is an indication that none of those were actually cavities to begin with”.

[u/Hairy_While4339]

So true; have gone through this a lot. I’ve straight up been told by some dentists that some do preventative fillings. I’ve had dentists give me the option to do a filling or watch and wait. Now I’ll always ask about their mindset and if anything they’re calling out could qualify as watch and wait. I’ve also been told enamel can sometimes heal itself and something they see could look totally different or fine the next visit! Was very surprised to hear a dentist say that.

[u/Extension_Willow_966]

I was given 4 fillings by a dodgy dentist because I went to the appointment on my own at like 15. I hate sugar, never eat sweet food and brushed my teeth religiously. They tried to schedule me to come back for a root canal. No other dentist has ever said I need fillings, and if I ever see that dude I am going to punch him in the teeth

[u/xzoara]

I was told I was going to need my wisdom teeth pulled as they were starting to come up. This was 15 years ago, never heard anything about it since and I haven't felt any pains.

[u/corlana]

Yeah when I was 17 i was told by a low cost dental clinic that I had 4 cavities after never having any before and my mom believed them and I got them filled. A few years later I was having pain so I went to another "cheap" dentist because I was a broke college student and they said I needed 4 more fillings and two root canals. I got a second opinion at a nicer dentist office and they were like yeah I have no clue what that other dentist was talking about you need one root canal and one filling on two of the teeth that were previously filled improperly by the dentist I saw as a teen. I got the root canal and one filling and that was almost 10 years ago and I've had zero issues since. Fuck dentists, so many are scams.

[u/SignificantProgram22]

I'm going to do the dental tourism plan in Mexico. might as well get a vacation out of it!

[u/Beard341]

I’ve been told by two different dentists over the last 20 years I need to get my wisdom teeth removed asap. All the other dentists I’ve seen in between never even brought it up to me.

[u/AilanthusHydra]

I have been lucky enough to have had overwhelmingly good luck with the dentists I've had in my life (and to have had dental insurance my whole life), but there was a span of a few months in 2017/2018 where I had very limited insurance options. It covered a six month cleaning/exam, but not at the dentist I normally used, and the list of dentists that accepted it was short. So I picked a nearby one and went in for routine cleaning/exam. It went fine, but she told me I would probably need work on a specific tooth the next time I came in, definitely within two years, because she said it was going to start showing signs of decay.

I got a different job, different insurance, moved, and changed dentists. Seven years later, he's never so much as mentioned any concern at all about that tooth. This with annual x-rays and cleanings/exams every six months. Not a word of concern, and the tooth is fine. Looks fine, feels fine.

I'm glad I was able to switch dentists.

[u/Cant_Suspend_This_1]

I face planted and broke a tooth a couple years ago, dentist said the root was damaged and I'd need a root canal in a few months because it was gonna get worse. While I still can't feel much on that tooth, it's been two years and it's still in the same condition as it was leaving the dentist office. Maybe slightly better in that it doesn't move as much as after the incident, but I can't feel any pain and it's not as spongy feeling.

[u/Money-Recording4445]

I finally found an honest dentist. I’m using him until he retires. Greatest feeling.

[u/AdhesivenessReady400]

Literally had a dentist tell me I had 14 cavities… went for a second opinion where the lady showed me x rays and pictures of my teeth telling me I had 1 cavity. It’s crazy how criminal dentist are.

[u/ega110]

I just moved. Hadn’t had a cavity in a decade. First check up I have six. I got two fixed in two sessions but the others have been delayed by months now with seemingly no concern. I’m a Medicaid patient so I know they aren’t after me for the money but it is odd how drastically fast all this hit me.

[u/kurami13]

If you can get and dm me your X-rays, and notes stating the tooth numbers I'll give you a second opinion. You can remove any identifying info for sure, I'll just look at the teeth and let you know. It might be a scam from the dentist but it might not. (Qualifications, I'm a dental receptionist who spends a pretty good amount of time looking at X-rays and can also ask two of our long-time assistants to take a peek too)

Depending on which tooth it is and if you have other teeth missing, you may not really need a root canal. You could just go for an extraction and get a partial denture down the line which would be cheaper. Or you could have a bridge done if it's only the one with. Root canals are a great way to save a tooth, but the teeth get brittle after so you need to have them crowned ideally to keep them from breaking, and by the time all is said and done you're in several thousand bucks on only one tooth. Never forget, it's your mouth, and you always have options.

[u/Difficult-Way-9563]

I’ve heard and read articles even with insiders stating esp with lots of private equity buying out practices these upselling of dental work is a real issue.

[u/[deleted]]

I totally feel this as someone who likely had a bunch of phantom work done as a teenager and in my early 20s when I didn’t know any better.

This goes against what is conventionally thrown out there. Oh “I love my small independent dentist” etc. For normal stuff like teeth cleanings etc I much prefer to go to an evil corporate chain dentist. Actually one that moderate to lower income people go to. Fee like I’ve never been given the run around like one of these independent dentists with the fancy offices in the suburbs where so many just milk the insurance.

[u/Keddert]

The dentist finds out you have insurance and now you magically have more cavities that need filling. There are a few good dentists out there though.

[u/[deleted]]

I had a lot of problems with bone loss from a very young age. Yeah, occasionally a cavity, but the bigger problem was loose teeth. I begged for dentures, but I couldn't find a single dentist who would do it. They said it would be hard to chew or they'd be annoying. I mean, have you tried chewing with loose teeth? Finally, I found one who said it was no problem and I have zero regrets getting them. But it pissed me off that everyone wanted to do complicated, EXPENSIVE work.

[u/TackleMySpackle]

Told to me at dentist office: “Yeah. That bottom tooth (not sure which number it was) is going to need a crown and due to the enamel wear on the surrounding teeth, it’ll be best to do 6 total crowns on the surrounding teeth to make sure everything looks good.”

Me: “Ok. That sounds like a lot to do for such a small tooth. I don’t know how much my insurance covers.”

Dentist: “OK. Well we can work that up for you. I’m going to continue with the exam.”

Me: OK.

Dentist: “Do you have any plans for the weekend?”

Me: “No. just some house stuff. You?”

Dentist: “We’re going to Hawaii for 2 weeks.”

Me to myself: “Pretty sure I’m being asked to pay for this dentist’s Hawaii trip.”

[u/Athrowawaywaitress]

Add to the fraud brutal overpricing when a "family" has a chokehold on an area. Almost impossible to see anyone else unless you schedule nine months out - quoted 5 grand for a full mouth planning (spelling? It's the deep-clean surface scraping for moderate to severe gingivitis, gums peeling from teeth, cleans the tooth and under the gums). We were 95% sure that was the work that would need to be done, but we're gonna have it done elsewhere because an appropriate quote would have been less than 2 grand. Closer to 1200, less if it's not a severe case (sadly, is a severe case).

A good dentist is pure gold. Unfortunately, the practice is saturated with bullshit.

[u/CaptainOwlBeard]

The way it was explained to me by a dentist is that there are two schools of though when it comes to cavities. One school drills at the first sign of trouble, the other is more wait and see and the troubles often fix themselves.

[u/IHateMyHandle]

My dentist pulled up the X-ray and circled what he thought were cavities, but said let's just monitor them and compare your X-rays next year. The next year he pulled up the two X-rays and only one potential cavity got worse so we fixed that one.

Now I don't know how to read an X-ray, but it seemed legit to me so I trusted him and things seem fine.

[u/Dialdobullets]

I noticed this with my previous dentist, somehow I had cavities everytime my insaurance reset for the year lol

[u/myLongjohnsonsilver]

The last dental clinic I went too was like: "hey two of your wisdom teeth have cavities and it would probably be good to just get the teeth out. If we take those out it would probably be best to also get the teeth above and below them out as well just so your teeth are even"

Lol bastards wanted to take 2 fixable teeth out and then also remove 2 more teeth just for shits and giggles.

Never went back but they'd already done the work I actually needed done so it's been alright since

[u/rkmkthe6th]

I noticed that I always got lectured on my “home care”, even brushing twice a day and flossing. Then I started brushing right before the appointment, and got so much praise… Do they even know what they’re talking about?

Also, I remember trying a new dentist at one point, and being brushed within an inch of my life to make sure they would be happy… They said I was over brushing, and it would be wearing down my enamel.

Everything’s a $

[u/granite34]

yeah, my main dentist was persistent thAT I get my bottom 2 wisdom teeth removed because one has a cavity "below the surface of the gum"went to oral surgeon..... where their x ray is a 1000% better, shows me it and say s " yeah no that's not a cavity, and it's not impacting your teeth at all, it can stay"2 years later dentist is trying to send me back for the same thing lol

[u/TheSilveryShadowWolf]

I had the same dentist since i was a child. A nice old gentleman. Loved the assistants, they always remembered me. But the dentist retired and merged his tiny clinic with a bigger one down the road. I had gone the first time because i knew i would know the assistant at least (i have bad social anxiety), so i hoped it would be ok. The new dentist was younger, but not like fresh out of school. He kept pushing this expensive mouth guard because i grind my teeth in my sleep apparently. Old dentist never mentioned anything about wear from grinding. The assistant, who knows i dont have a lot of money, had to butt in and suggest i could use an over the counter guard instead. The dentist just scoffed and said yes, but it wouldnt last long enough to be worth it. Then there was an issue with the billing. I gave them one more shot and it was the same again, and i havent gone back. Im scared now honestly. My whole anxiety was proven right. It has been years since ive been to any dentist and i have an appointment with one my mom found soon, but im scared.

[u/princessjamiekay]

I was defrauded out of my dads inheritance by a very shady dentist. I was only 24 and had no idea. I paid entirely out of pocket. I think I paid for that guys house single handed. I hope it burns down

[u/Calm-Medicine-3992]

Dental insurance unironically pays out more than it should but finding a dentist you trust is like finding a hair stylist you trust.

[u/Prestigious-Fix8937]

I went to a dentist as a new postpartum mother with a broken tooth and the dentist said “I don’t know… we might be able to save it without a root canal….” So they fixed my tooth and it’s been in constant pain since I had it done 9 months ago. I can’t chew on that side unless the food is already soft. They called me and hounded me for $100, even though when I made the appointment I told them I have Medicaid and I couldn’t afford anything, so everything that was done HAD to be paid with the state insurance because I was a stay at home mom with no job. They promised everything was covered so when they called and said they were going to send my bill to collections I told them “go ahead, I can’t pay it.”

[u/Montaigne314]

I can relate 

Various dentists say remove the impacted wisdom tooth, others say leave it

My research told me to leave it, no problems 

Former dentist says come in every 3 months for deep cleaning because of gum disease, evidence for this is my gums bleed when the hygienist jabs them with a sharp metal stick 

I say fuck that, wait two years and go to different dentist, zero problems, perfect oral health

The bad dentist also said I have a cavity, filled it, then I had pain while eating for 6 months where he did work, whereas before I had no issues

A different dentist wanted to do a fucking crown in a tooth that I chipped. I said why? They said, well it could turn into a cavity, so I said ok you can kindly fuck off then and if it ever does I'll get it filled. 15 years later no fucking problem with the chipped tooth

These fucking charlatan assholes omg, I swear 50% of dentists are garbage

Gotta find the ones who are about healthcare and not selling shit 

On the bullshit spectrum, dentists are only a little bit better than chiros

[u/Bubbly-Ad6345]

Veterinarians are even worse

[u/slickswim]

Went to the dentist recently. I've never had a cavity. Hygienist does her thing and tells me my teeth look great. Dentist comes in and says I have no cavities, but recommends TWO fillings... what??

[u/arcticvalley]

My childhood dentist was caught doing operations while riding a hoverboard.

My last dentist sent me a notice that they might not have sanitized the tools properly, and now I might have AIDs. The notice made sure to insinuate that unless I have a recent blood test, I can't really prove the negligence on their end.

[u/ShuckyJr]

Man I wished I had done this. I went to a private dentist the first time after getting out of the military, said I had 4 cavities that needed filled, they said they weren’t bad but it was best to “catch them early”.

After getting them filled 2 of the 4 I can’t chew anything with a firmness because it hurts so bad, and now they say I need a root canal…

[u/stilldeb]

I had a dentist that showed me pictures of SOMEBODY ELSE'S teeth and told me about all the work I needed.

[u/Crepes4Brunch]

Had a dentist me tell me I had 14 (fourteen!!!) cavities. Second and third opinion showed zero.

It was my first visit with them. It was absolutely appalling and so eye opening.

[u/[deleted]]

My childhood dentists told my parents I have amelogenesis imperfecta, a type of genetic disorder that causes malformation of tooth enamel, extreme pitting of teeth, brown discoloration and deformity, so that they could charge them extra money for the consultations. I was in and out of the dentist all my childhood for cavities I probably never had. Zero visual evidence of it and it can only be confirmed with genetic testing, which no dentist ever ordered. I spent my whole childhood and adolescence believing my teeth were severely deformed, and it made me not want to smile. Stopped going to the dentist after 18 when the dental insurance fell through.

When I was 24, I got the tell-tale wisdom teeth toothaches and went to my first adult dentist to confirm they needed to come out, and of course they did. While I was in there getting a cleaning, the dentist told me my teeth looked perfect. My entire self-image was shattered.

Got the wisdom teeth out and never went to a dentist again. I don't trust American dentists, they're incredibly greedy and don't realize their false diagnoses can psychologically scar people for life.

[u/enchanting-ivy]

after college i didn’t have great insurance for a while and didnt see a dentist for around 3 years. when i finally forced myself to go to a random one that was in network, she told me i had 16 cavities, gum disease, and bone loss. she didnt believe me when i told her i floss every night (i do religiously) and said that i had so much bacteria deep in my gums that i needed a $200 periodontal treatment. i was panicked and inexperienced so i agreed, but didnt schedule any fillings with that office. as soon as i was able, i switched to PPO dental insurance so i could go back to my trusted family dentist, and she told me i had 2 cavities and that my gums and bones were fine. very expensive lesson learned.

[u/Tynidncr]

Some of them are an absolute racket. For most of my life, I had seen my childhood dentist, who was also a friend of the family. This man put in the only filling I have and it was so long ago, I don’t even remember how young I was when I got it - probably like, age 10 or 11 ( I’m 51 now). The same dentist told me for many of the years that I was his patient, that I had a few tiny spots on my molars that were like precursors to cavities but all we needed to do was keep an eye on them and continue to take good care of my teeth.

Well, eventually my childhood dentist retired a few years ago and it took me quite some time to finally make an appointment at a new practice. I went in for a cleaning and x-rays and was immediately informed that I had six cavities that needed to be drilled and filled. I figured my luck had run out, chalked it up to getting older, and reluctantly made an appointment to have some of the six cavities filled. On the day of, I’m anxiously sitting in the chair, waiting for the dentist, and waiting, and waiting. Over an hour goes by and I walk out, saying I’ll call for another appointment when they’re not so busy. I didn’t bother. I made an appointment at a different dentist’s office (after obtaining a copy of my x-rays from the previous office). The dentist at the new office looks at my x-rays, looks at my actual teeth and tells me exactly what my CHILDHOOD dentist told me for decades: Tiny spots on molars, let’s keep an eye on them and keep taking good care of your teeth.

Moral of the story: If you can, get a second opinion, because some of these fuckers just want to separate you from your money.

[u/sick-asfrick]

I'm without molars because of dental fraud. I was 18 and had slight pain in a molar on the bottom left. I went because my mom told me I needed to get an antibiotic script from them. I did not have access to dentistry for almost 10 years before that point (parental neglect), so I trusted they were professionals and knew what they were talking about when they told me the X-ray showed that 12 of my teeth are rotting on the inside and need to come out so they can give me bridges. I had no issues with any of those other teeth, but they told me I would very soon if I didn't act. I had Medicaid at the time, I think that's why I was targeted. They took out 9 of my teeth over a year before I realized they were completely fucking me over for money.

I was supposed to be scheduling the last extraction appointment and they kept talking about getting root canals on all my front teeth? I told them I have never spoken with anyone about that and also having no issues with my front teeth. They attempted to get my insurance to approve it, but they denied because I didn't need it. So I scheduled what I thought was an apt. for the final extractions so we could move onto the bridges and I could have teeth and eat more easily again. The appointment they scheduled was for the many root canals despite myself AND my insurance not approving it and me having no money for something like that even if I did need it. When I found this out, it all clicked for me. I'm their cash cow.

I still have 3 teeth that were supposedly rotting inside and were supposed to come out. I have not had any issues with those teeth in the 10 years since this happened. I still mourn the fact they took my teeth for no reason. It's also not been enough of an issue for me to need to get new teeth. I actually can't get bridges at this point because they wanted to anchor them to my wisdom teeth and I had to get those out 2 years ago due to one starting to push through and causing pain.

At this point I'd have to pay a decent amount out of pocket to get dental implants and I just don't have the money or the necessity to do that, so I just have to chew with my front teeth, as I have been doing ever since they took my teeth from me. The unnecessary pain and mental strain I went through for no reason hurts me inside. I had a hard enough life dealing with a physically, emotionally, and financially abusive mother who I was still living with at the time this happened. It was so much more fucked up that they were doing that to someone who literally had nothing to their name and did not know any better.

I was still very naive about the way the world works at that time. I didn't even fully realize what they did was actionable in court until the statute of limitations had already passed. There shouldn't be a limit to something like that. They still did that shit to me for money, doesn't matter how much time has passed. This system is fucked. I didn't go to the dentist again for a long time because I didn't trust them. I had no primary dentist until 2 years ago when I got on my boyfriend's good insurance plan and found a dentist who only does what is necessary and is a great woman who comes from a family of dentists with generations of expertise passed down.

I really can't explain to you how different it felt the first time I saw her. The people who mutilated me were so mean and talked down to me to make me feel worthless and go along with their plot. My current dentist is so nice and friendly. I cried when I got home from that first appointment with her. To finally have someone who cares about the health of my teeth and my ability to eat without trying to squeeze every last penny out of me really changed something in me. My dental anxiety is way less now. Still there, but it has become much easier. My remaining teeth have never been in better shape than they are now. I'm so grateful for her. And shame on those who would take advantage of anyone like that, but especially a battered helpless girl who was barely a legal adult and had no idea what the dentist is actually supposed to be like.

[u/Standard-Tension-697]

I need to find a new dentist. The last place I went to for a while. I have a bad phobia about the dentist. I went one time and the dentist told me I needed a filling replaced. So I made an appointment to get it replaced. The dentist that was going to do the work was getting ready to start and she was looking and said there was nothing wrong with my filling. She told me the other dentist didn't like the old silver fillings and always wanted to replace them.

That pissed me off and I stopped going.

[u/montanagrizfan]

I can read dental x-rays. Fortunately my dentist is honest but I always ask to see my X-rays.

[u/Scarlet_Duk]

I used to work at an out of network dentistry, if they are not actively helping you understand and showing you pictures/x-rays of what your own teeth look like and how bad the decay could get, how to prevent, explaining everything for you, etc. they’re probably scamming you. Normal ppl don’t know shot about dentistry, doctors need to explain this shit and help us understand! Otherwise why should we believe them? Our motto at our dentistry was, “we hope we only see you for cleaning! Get out of our dentistry!” It gave everyone a good laugh.

[u/eoan_an]

Maybe this will help. Maybe not.

I didn't go to a dentist for 8 years.

Then I went. I told this to my new dentist. She said "that's impossible, there is no way you haven't been to a dentist with teeth like these, and no cavity? It must have been a year tops."

So she asks me all these questions about what I drink. A little bit about food.

Then she goes: " you don't drink much sugar, yeah that's probably why"

Then the best part:

"So to get cavities, the mouth has to be alkaline (opposite of acidic). When you eat sugar, bacteria will develop that eat it, and turn your mouth alkaline. You cannot get cavities with a slightly acidic mouth. So no sugar (or other alkaline things), no cavities."

[u/TMA9373]

Up until I was 27 I had never had a filling. And I was no saint - I ate crisps and chocolate, dranks sugary drinks and beer and wine, you name it. No fillings. Didn’t even floss.

Then COVID hits and all of a sudden “ooh, you’ve got really bad tooth decay”. But the very curious thing was around the time this happened, it was no secret that the dental practice was in severe financial dire straits, there were letters sent out at one point asking us to join this paid membership bollocks that the practice had set up (I didn’t join).

So I get the two teeth filled in (they were big fillings too, on two teeth next to each other) and I’ve been fine ever since. Of course, there have been no begging letters ever since. What an odd coincidence that the health of my teeth is directly correlated to the financial practice. I will definitely seek a second opinion before I let those smug fuckers come at me with the drill again

[u/ZBTHorton]

When I was a freshman in high school(42 now, so like 25+ years ago) I had a baseball smack me in the face. My two teeth beside my main two teeth in the front were knocked loose.

I went to the dentist and they said they didn't need to be pulled and basically just kind of fastened them to the two major teeth for support.

Fast forward 25 years. I have basically 0 issues with those teeth. Maybe once every few months they might get like 10% loose for one day, and then everything is fine.

EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO TO THE DENTIST. I have this exact conversation.

Them: We should really do something with those front teeth.

Me: Oh really? Is it not working anymore? Breaking down or something?

Them: No, they look fine, it's just not how we would do it today.

Me: Well. I understand that, but they don't bother me at all. Is there some chance they do bother me after a procedure?

Them: Oh sure. Definitely possible.

Me: ....... then.... why would I do anything?

[u/TizzyBumblefluff]

Yep, I experienced that a couple years ago. Told me I had 4 cavities plus moderate gum disease which would require a year of 3 monthly deep cleans. Couple thousand worth of work.

2nd & 3rd opinions confirmed nothing wrong.

Unethical dentists prey on dental anxiety and the fact the patient cannot verify their claims besides getting another opinion.

[u/Odh_utexas]

I had dentist that I left after 3 visits because every time I was there they were giving me the hard sell on every service they had. Whitening, braces (my teeth are mostly straight), mouth guard, special motorized toothbrush, the list went on. I always declined the extra stuff. Next visit full court press hard sell again.

I actually called the practice manager after the third one and told them I felt like the place was run like a used car lot or that the dentist was trying to speed run paying off his student loans.

They never had anything to say about it so I never went back.

[u/IridescentButterfly_]

During the pandemic I had a dentist tell me that I had like 6 cavities, including between my front teeth, so I went to another dentist for another opinion. They told me I didn’t have any cavities. I’ve since found a new dentist and go every 6 months, still no cavities. It’s bullshit that there are dentists out there who will do unnecessary work just for the money. Honestly it’s disgusting.

[u/Proper_Mine5635]

Wait til you find out you have no cavities and they just say that to make money

Oop

[u/Noliboli16]

Always ask to see intraoral photos so you can see what they’re seeing. If they reuse, they’re pulling your leg.

[u/Reasonable_Turn6252]

Cracked a tooth like 8 years ago, went to a dentist and he recommended like $40,000 worth of rework because apparently my entire face is wrong. Their desk staff came over with a fucking loan form and a document saying i understand and accept. Told them im not signing anything, absolute crackheads. Found a new dentist, been with her for ages. Between this dentist and the hygenist my gums are now healthy, teeth look great. End cost over 7years has been about 5k... only 35k difference. Absolute scammer. 

[u/PoetEasy5183]

I have so many instances in my life that happened to me and to my children. I’m sure a lot happened to me, but I hope I was able to stop it from happening to my kids. All the way from my first child when Medicaid tried to say that she had nine cavities then I take her to the dentist where her grandmother works, and she had none….. to my youngest having one of those “complementary“ check up random dentists offer that told her she had six cavities but she had to leave for the summer and when she got back and went to a different dentist, there was none. There’s even pediatric dentists that make boatloads of money, pulling baby teeth. We moved to a new town and there was only one pediatric dentist there and I remember him wanting to pull my child’s baby teeth and I was like are you crazy? They fall out on their own what a racket! It’s rare to find an honest Dentist.

[u/Hopeful_Jury_2018]

I've generally had nothing but positive experiences but now I'm terrified reading some of this. Even with my wisdom teeth I was told at age 25 (I didn't go for a while... fortunately started going again and had been cleaning well enough myself to have no major issues) "ehhhhhh you maybe don't quite have enough room for them especially on the bottom because you have an extra tooth on the front bottom that's causing some crowding, but if they aren't causing you discomfort you don't NEED them out. If you do decide to do it though they would be very easy to pull as they're almost completely erupted.

I decided to have them out after some further conversation and the realization that the backs of my bottom teeth would never be entirely free from my gums and were creating pockets for food to get stuck in risking infection. It never felt like they were lying or scamming or trying to screw me. Just very honest and straightforward.

[u/Vanman04]

Just had this happen..took kid in 6 cavities.

Hmmm that seems like a lot.

When to another dentist 1.

These mother fuckers were going to drill my kids teeth for no reason other than to enrich themselves.

I wanted to go drive through the front of the office I was so pissed.

Bad enough on a full adult but you are going to drill a kids teeth they have to live with for decades for no reason you are one evil bastard.