I had a similar experience. My gums were inflamed in one spot and my dentist recommended I drop a boatload of cash on this procedure. I procrastinated, and at the same time paid special attention to cleaning and flossing in the affected area. The inflammation went away in less than a week, and at my next check-up, my dentist had nothing to say about the area.
Of course, IANAD.
Interesting. Two cleanings ago, the hygienist noted that my gums looked inflamed, particularly around one tooth. The recommendation was that I be very careful with my brushing and flossing - particularly in that area, but in general pay more attention to it. The next visit (in March of this year), I was told that things looked great, with no apparent problems.
I am going to miss my dentist when I move - I have never felt pressured into having work done for the cost - he explains why he’s recommending something and when he needs to refer, I trust him to refer to an excellent professional, as he did when I had a major problem last fall. I came to his office after having been to a different dental practice to correct crown problem - that office was telling me I needed root canals on 3 teeth (yes, one of those teeth has a deep filling in it and will likely eventually need a root canal). Dr. Larsen said - “sure, probably, eventually, but right now it looks fine, and we’re just going to watch it”.
I’ve recommended his office to others in Tucson and will continue to do so.
I’ve never had deep cleanings recommended to me, so can’t speak to the OP’s question about whether they’re scams or not.
Be very wary of the dental cameras that they use now that magnifies your teeth 100x or something like that. The lighting and magnification make it appear as if you have cavities (dark spots) where none exist. The dentist I went to told me that I needed to have all 4 of my previous fillings replaced, because I was starting to get cavities around them, and showed me the pictures to “prove” it. She then handed me an estimate of $2k and told me to see the receptionist to schedule the appointment. I declined to make the appointment. Instead I made an appointment with my husband’s cousin, who happens to be a dentist, though not as conveniently located.
I told him that I was getting a second opinion and explained why. He seemed really surprised. He poked at my teeth with his implements of torture and said there was no evidence of cavities anywhere, including around the fillings. Then he took x-rays of my teeth and showed them to me. He said, “Lisa, if you had cavities, they’d show up on these x-rays. A cavity is basically a hole in your enamel. There are no holes in your teeth.”
I showed him the pictures, which looked like the surface of the moon. He reddened and said quite angrily, “She isn’t practicing dentistry. This is a MARKETING tool to try to convince you that you need something that you don’t. And people like this are giving honest dentists a bad name.”
The first dentist actually had the audacity to call me and remind me to make my appointment to fill my cavities. I told the person that I wouldn’t be returning. She asked why and I told her that I thought they were being dishonest at best and criminal at worst.
Fast forward a few months and I was at a party talking to a hygienist. Long story short, turned out that she used to work for the dishonest dentist and quit because they just started a new policy and all hygienists were expected to sell a certain dollar amount in “upgrades” (e.g. teeth whitenings) each month, and if they didn’t they’d be let go. :mad:
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PunditLisa brings up a great point about cameras. Some people also have very “deep grooves” in their back teeth (myself included), and the pulsing light sensors and the cameras make dark spots look like cavities. Any good dentist/hygienist should be doing the old fashioned “poke a sharp tool and see if it sticks” method to confirm if they suspect any cavities at all.
I have the exact opposite problem. My dentist is so laid back and more than a little disdainful of what he considers a North American obsession with perfect teeth, I’ve sometimes worried he has missed something crucial.
I’ve had a deep cleaning done. I had a lot of gum pain before it, and almost none afterwards. I think in my case, it was a necessary procedure. YMMV. I told the dentist that I was a complete chicken about these things, and asked for and received some numbing shots. I had to pay extra for them, but I considered them well worth it.
I really don’t want to go through it again, though.
Why wouldn’t it be good to have your dog’s or cat’s teeth cleaned? Especially since the majority of pet owners I know never even try to brush their pet’s teeth.
No dental care at all can produce the same problems as in humans, including a shortened life span (infections can spread to elsewhere in the body, including the heart). “Just” because your pet isn’t human doesn’t mean you don’t need to take care of them.
I know I don’t have the greatest teeth in the world, but I do brush with a sonic toothbrush 2x per day and I floss every GD day. It seemed like every time I went to the dentist, they found “something” that needed to be done. I’ve probably spent $6k-$7k over the past few years but somehow they still kept coming up with treatment plans for $1,000+. This is why people stop going to the dentist. I know the smarter plan of action is to find another, better dentist… but in the meantime, I just haven’t been back in well over a year.
I had a dentist who told me I had a cracked molar and seriously weakened filling that needed replacing and crowning immediately. One wrong chew and bam I would cause deep harm to my mouth.
I went to another for a 2nd opinion. She said the previous wasn’t true, but did notice it is mercury and it will have to be replaced someday at my leisure. I had her fix it on the spot in an hour since it was covered.
I go to my dentist every 6 months for a regular cleaning. new hygenist says oh there is a problem you need a deep cleaning. First of all I am not a good patient and even for general cleaning I am nervous. Now, of course I am freaking out. First of all the cost, and the procedure and if pain being off of work. I decided to get a second opinion which I am going for before I even do this. and after reading other peoples experiences I am glad I am going for a second opinion. I kept thinking of all the TMJ scams and needing bite guards because you grind your teeth and that is why you have migraines. It wasn;t and I spent a lot of money on that. What a scam. But getting a second opinion from another dentist that I know personally will make up my mind
Hate that I’m answering a zombie thread, but this issue has come up for me recently. I have had it done, and just charged it on my credit card, no big. But now that I dont’ use them anymore and am trying to be budget conscious, I got one side done recently and realized it was like $350 out of pocket. Screw that! I called and cancelled for the other side, and of course they tell me, you really need to come back soon and get other side done. (the RECEPTIONIST told me this!!- WTF) Screw that, I’m good. If indeed I come back someday with a horrible case of gum disease, they can say I told you so.
I’m deeply (ha!) suspicious of the “deep clean.”
Speaking of shyster dentists, here an actual review of a dentist I went to, pasted from my Angie’s List review:
Note, I found another dentist within a few months and those six cavities? They didn’t exist. The new dentist repaired a cracked filling and replaced one that had mostly fallen out. No deep cleaning was upsold to me.
When the shyster dentist did the charting (where they stick a stick into your gums and measure how bad the peridontal disease is – 5 and 6 is bad and 1 or 2 is good), they got all 5s and 6s. When the new dentist did the exact same charting maybe four months later, it was all 1s and 2s. Nothing about my daily dental regimen changed in that time and six cavities didn’t magically heal themselves.
I have finally found a great dental practice and I adore them all. Just a few weeks ago they sent me to see the root canal specialist because I’ve cracked a cap and there was something on the xray that made them think I’d need to have the root canal redone.
15 mins with him and he explained why they thought he needed to look at it but that everything was fine and to go ahead with the new cap.
Now if I could just conquer the fact that my ancestors lived forever but with teeth that crack when you eat anything harder than wonderbread life would be awesome.
Yet Another Warning Story About A Dentist Looking For $:
Many years ago, I saw a dentist a few times and at one point he pushed me hard to have my upper wisdom teeth pulled. That weren’t coming in. He showed me the X-rays with the teeth clearly at a bad angle pushing against the molars. Since I wasn’t in pain or anything, I didn’t have it done.
Moved away soon after, got a new dentist. After a few visits I wondered why he hadn’t said anything about my impacted wisdom teeth, so I finally asked. “What impacted wisdom teeth?” was his reply. Showed me the X-rays. Not at an angle at all. Just very slow coming in. (In fact, neither really did. I only had the 2nd one removed about a year ago. Over 25 years later.)
Yeah, the first guy was a fraud.
I was offered one of these deep cleaning/root planning/scaling deals a few years ago. After my rather rough regular cleaning, the hygienist explained to me chairside about the deep cleaning. She then walked me over to the office manager’s office where they sat me down and explained the payment plan since insurance was not going to cover it. It was like financing a car.
I got up and walked out explaining I needed a 2nd opinion. I got a real dentist after that and he never mentioned any deep cleaning as long as I was under his care.
If the procedure is needed to keep my mouth healthy, why is it not covered by most insurance plans? I agree just because it is not covered does not mean it is not needed, but still - the dentist recommending this ought to have a good answer for “why doesn’t my insurance cover this?” when the patient asks “how much is this going to cost me?”. If they do not have a good answer, walk.
Granted, my dental care was neglected once I lost my insurance 7 years ago, and I am aware some fillings fell out and some decay happened. But I’m almost 66 years old, my gums look fine, teeth are not loose at all, I have NO insurance and the dentist is pressing me for this deep scaling that will cost $900!!! I think I’ll get the fillings replaced, floss twice a day and forego the deep scaling!!!
I went into a large national chain dental office for a routine cleaning a few years ago. They wouldn’t do the cleaning, or even x-rays until I had deep-scaling done. I opted to forgo it and found another dentist. I mentioned the deep-scaling to him and he said I didn’t need it. I’ve moved a few times since then and gone to three other dentists, and not once has one of them mentioned this. A friend of mine recently went to another branch of the same national chain that told me I needed deep-scaling done and go figure, this office told him the same thing. I would definitely get a second opinion before getting this treatment. I know there are times it’s legitimately needed, but sometimes it really isn’t.
Needed a new dentist, went in for xrays and a cleaning appt. I did know that I needed at some time to have “scaling” done, tartar below the gum line, however I wanted to get my teeth cleaned and then discuss the options of scheduling the scaling and insurance coverage and out of pocket cost. They do they xrays, and then it’s time to have the cleaning, they say based on the xrays I do have tartar beneath the gum line, I acknowledge this and say I wanted to discuss my options after my cleaning, OH NO, we can’t clean your teeth until after the scaling. Ok, am I confused here, isn’t cleaning someone’s teeth the basic and your telling me that until I schedule my scaling that you won’t do a basic cleaning?? I got up and walked out. I have been going to the dentist my whole life, I’m almost 48 and until about 10 years ago this scaling and root planing were never a topic. My Mother is 71, has all her teeth and has never had either done or has ever had her dentist recommend either procedure. I think this is a new money maker, yes, maybe an advancement but are you telling me now you won’t even do the basic service to help your patients. I think it’s a sad day.
^ This.
I can not emphasize that enough.
I developed gum disease in my mid-20’s and underwent a deep cleaning/scaling. It was very much needed, not a scam, and it halted the damage in its tracks. I learned my lesson and have much improved dental health these days (my current dentist jokes he makes no money off me).
In between the dentist who did the scaling and got my dental habits straightened out and my current dentist I encountered on that kept pushing-pushing-pushing procedures and seemed to conduct wallet/insurance biopsies on a regular basis. And yes, he was a big proponent of regular deep cleaning/scaling and basically tried to scare me into getting it.
Which prompted me to get a second opinion and become the patient of my current dentist.
You might indeed need the scaling. That can not be determined over the internet. You need to see a dentist in real life for that. Find a second dentist unconnected to the first and get that second opinion.
Bijou Drains
“If you have doubts go to another dentist for a 2nd opinion.”
Broomstick
“Which prompted me to get a second opinion and become the patient of my current dentist. […] Find a second dentist unconnected to the first and get that second opinion.”
Pardon my naive question–I’ve never done this–how do you go about getting a second opinion?
Does dental insurance typically pay the cost for getting a second opinion?
Do you tell the second dentist your visit is only for a second opinion? Does dentist then reduce or waive the cost? Or is it treated like a regular dental checkup, for which you pay normal cost?