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I find it more and more to be true, that when my dentist tells me that I need some average to major procedure done, that I can go on for years without any repercussions in not having it done.
I’ve had a cracked/chipped tooth that he wanted to extract and replace and I chose not to have it done, as it doesn’t bother me. It’s been well over 16 years since then and I am doing just fine with my tooth — no pain, no annoyances.
Similarly, he saw a cracked tooth and also suggested that I have it pulled and filled in. Once again, no pain (for me), no gain (for his pocketbook).
Do others out there find this to be so? Do dentists want to pad their wallets on unsuspecting patients? After all, our teeth are not something that we’re so familiar with. Do they possibly take advantage of this fact?
I can’t answer your questions, but I can tell you that my own experience was very similar to yours.
I was told a few years ago that I had a crack in a tooth. Dentist wanted to remove, replace tooth. This involved major dental proceedings over several visits. I was not eager to got through all that for a tooth that gave me no trouble.
Tooth still doing its job without any dental procedures, including several rounds of shmurah matza and honey-dipped apples.
Of course there’s a possibility frumguy and I have just had spectacular mazel with our teeth…
So I have to ask–
Anybody else?
Do the two of you possibly share the same dentist?
The Frumguy – i agree which is why NOW i am SO careful with doctors, nurses you name it because once i thought that the dentist filled a cavity she wasnt suppose to but then i showed it to another dentist and they agreed with her. so i dont know. but from now on i get second opinions i brought the doctor in and my mother was like dont make the nurse feel bad i was like this has nothing to do with her this has something to do with my life.
Frumguy – You’re not the only ones!
I remember 2 readers’ digests – one had an article about Dentists that rip you off and the other had an article about Car mechanics that rip you off!
Get another Dentist!
Good question, Joseph!! But guess we’ll never know…
Yes, Health, I’m considering that.
My car mechanic, by the way, is actually pretty good.
Frumguy: Dr. Martin Bienenstock is great.
Shmuel Sadowsky, Chaim Kurland, Leibel Kozlowski, Marvin Brody,
This is a common problem. I’m not in Brooklyn and don’t share the same dentists. 9 years ago my dentist did a temporary repair to a front corner tooth. He told me that within 6 months I’d need, a post, pin and crown fro $6000. The temporary repair is still holding up. I can’t say the same for the dentist; his funeral was last week (aged 60).
In 1980 I needed a root canal, post and crown on a tooth all the way back in my mouth. I told the dentist (another city, another man) to put in a stainless steel crown as no one could see it when I opened my mouth. No need for porcelain or gold.
The next day brushing my teeth I see a gold reflection in the mirror. I had not yet rec’d the bill (the good old days when you didn’t pay before leaving the office.
The bill came at the end of the month and I was billed for a gold crown. I called the dentist to complain that I was specific that I wanted a stainless steel crown, not gold, and was not paying for it. He could replace it or eat the cost difference. He told me to tear up the bill and find a new dentist.
I filed a complaint with the CT licensing authorities. They got the records from the dental lab. I was billed for a gold crown that was actually gold colored base metal. The Dentist lost his license to practice in CT.
I no longer worry about my dentist, it’s my sister’s 2nd son. I don’t pay for dentistry, he doesn’t pay for legal work. 100% family discount.
CTL: So if his patient sues him for completing dental services he didn’t order you defend him free of charge?
Yes, they are all crooks.
There are lots of cheap and short-term dental fixes that wind up lasting a long time, but the majority of short-term dental fixes wear out more or less when the dentists expect. If you get lucky with a short-term fix that lasts for years, it does not mean that your dentist gave bad advice or was dishonest – he/she is probably following the collective wisdom of a learned profession. My spouse settled for a cheap short-term fix, and a few years later she lost the tooth. A permanent, more expensive fix whould have saved the tooth and the costs of some extensive oral surgery.
Joseph…
If C”V a patient sued my nephew regarding dental work and the suit was for less than $5 million it would be defended by his malpractice insurance carrier, not an independent attorney.
I specialize in trusts, estates and family law and not be the ideal defense attorney in such a suit. That said I’d offer to review and explain all the legal papers to my nephew at no charge. I did set up the trust that bought all the dental equipment and leases it to the practice, as well as trusts for his children, advanced medical directives and wills, etc.
Health, I was going to bring up that RD article on crooked dentists. If I recall correctly, the writer got his teeth evaluated by an honest dentist who said he needed some minor work. He then went to dentists all over the country, finding that the vast majority recommended way more work than he needed. even to the extreme of extracting all his teeth.
My childhood dentist was drill-happy. I suspect he filled way more cavities than he needed to. He ended up a suicide. I’ve had two teeth break and require crowns because they were weakened by his fillings.
As for honest mechanics, I recommend Maven Motors on Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens (not a bad drive from Brooklyn if you take the Jackie Robinson).
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