Can I Trust My Dentist’s Diagnosis?

You’ve moved to a new town and now you’re visiting a dentist for the first time in about a year. Until now, you’ve always taken great care of your teeth — you even floss (sometimes) — and you always scheduled checkups every six months. But now, your new dentist is telling you that you need $5,000 worth of crowns and root canals, not to mention a deep cleaning (“periodontal scaling and root planing”)

You leave upset and frustrated, but you even have an appointment card in hand because of how important it seemed to get started on your treatment right away. But now you’re second guessing yourself and plan to cancel the appointment. Your gut says something is wrong about all of this. How can you tell if your dentist’s diagnosis is legit?

“Creative Diagnosis” and Differing Opinions

The ADA uses the term “creative diagnosis” when discussing treatment recommendations that might, let’s say, not be something another dentist would recommend. It may be that your dentist feels it’s better for your lifestyle and career goals, or they tend to over-diagnose tooth decay in early stages (recommending a filling instead of something simple like fluoride.)

Every dentist is different, but some are more so than others. If your gut says that something is wrong, there’s a good chance that you need to have the treatment recommendations validated by another provider.

The First Step: A Second Opinion

Sometimes our gut is wrong, and we really do need urgent dental treatment. The only way to find out is to get a second opinion. In fact, most dental insurance companies love second opinions! Weighing two or even three recommended treatment plans against one another gives you the option to go with the most affordable and least-invasive alternative.

You don’t even have to tell the second dentist why you’re there, but it doesn’t hurt. If he or she knows that you’re getting a second opinion, they’re more likely to recommend as many options and a less-invasive alternative to what you’ve already been told that you need. This gives you more freedom to plan your course of dental care and opt for the solution that’s best for your long-term goals.

One thing is for certain, there’s nothing bad about getting a second opinion. If anything, it will give you a clearer understanding of what’s going on with your oral health.

Looking for a New Dentist in Houston?

To find the best new family dentist, we recommend asking your neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends who they see. Even if the dentist isn’t in your policy’s network, they might still work with your dental insurance plan.

Search for a provider who accepts most or all PPO insurance plans, or Medicaid/CHIP if you’re a beneficiary. Some providers also offer affordable financing options for procedures that may not be covered by your insurance policy, such as cosmetic treatments.