The next time your dentist says you have a small cavity, you might want to have a discussion whether that cavity actually needs to be treated.
The New York Times reports that more doctors are treating “microcavities,” which are small lesions that may or may not actually need to be filled.
“With increasingly sophisticated detection technology, dentists are finding — and treating — tooth abnormalities that may or may not develop into cavities. While some describe their efforts as a proactive strategy to protect patients from harm, critics say the procedures are unnecessary and painful, and are driving up the costs of care,” says the story written by Ritchie S. King.
“A better approach is watchful waiting,” said Dr. James Bader, a research professor at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. “Examine it again in six months.”
“Every time a dentist drills into a tooth, he added, “you’re condemning that person to a refilling” years down the road.”
While some dentists are treating these small lesions out of an abundance of caution, others might be filling the tiny cavities to increase their business as competition heats up among dentists. If you want to have some fun, ask your dentist how much profit there is in teeth whitening procedures and guards to prevent damage from teeth grinding.
Thanks to ConsumerWorld.org for pointing out this story.
Reading the New York Times story was very similar with my own. I was going to a dentist for years with no cavities ever, I moved and went to Granby Dental and my first visit there was four small cavities to be filled. When I began to question it since I was surprised they indicated that they don’t like to see any decay, and starting to get defensive. I went to another dentist and indicated that there was nothing he could see that needed to be filled, perhaps put some on a watch, of course I never went back to Granby Dental. More than two years later I still have no cavities. I had a great dentist were I use to live and also the one I’m seeing now. This experience though made me very suspicious of some offices.
I had perfect teeth until my parents changed dentists when I was 16. I came home from an appointment one day with a diagnosis of 11 cavities. He drilled out my teeth, robbed my parents, and I’ve had problems with my teeth ever since, including losing 5 of them before I was 40.
If I ever run into him again, I’m removing 5 of his teeth with my fists.
For years I had a dentist in Plainville, Ct, “Gentle Care’, who provided me with 4 cleanings a year because he said they were covered under my dental insurance; and when I left him I went to another dentist in Plainville who not only continued the 4 cleanings a year but then he did something I could not tolerate and that was when he was paid $100. in January for a ‘conference’ that never happend, about an $1100. filling for a tooth which I never authorized and then in April when I made an appointment to talk about this same filling, he collected another $100. for this appointment – SO HE COLLECTED $200. from my dental insurance. When I complained at the office his office manager said to me, “Do you think I should return it to the insurance company?” And then I had an emergency and went to a Dentist in Bristol, CT who told me there was nothing wrong with my gums and I did not qualify for 4 cleanings a year and I had to pay $100. out of pocket for a ‘conference about a broken tooth’ because I am only entitled to 2 conferences a year in my insurance. How can these dentists be held accountable for the fraud they are guilty of? And since then I have also been told by a UCONN dentist that I do not qualify for 4 cleanings a year. If you know how to code your bills you are all set. I told the insurance company all 4 cleanings were done the same way and the girl at the other end of the phone just said “Everyone says that.”
In November 2009 a big molar on my bottom right hurt and could move a little. Went to my Dentist, Dr. Altman, East Hartford. He had teamed up with a couple named Kwon. He took an X-ray and said the tooth was infected and had to be pulled. An Appt. was made and the tooth was pulled. I asked if I could have the tooth. The assistant cleaned it and gave it to me in a bag. I noticed the gold crown was not on it and asked for that. Her reply: “Oh, you want that to?” At that time gold was $1064/oz. As the gold content can vary I figured the crown was worth $37 to $74. I wondered how many crowns they keep? Since then I have continued extensive work at the UCONN Dental School.