Last updated on August 26, 2026
I’m scared that the dentist will carry out unnecessary dental work.
I don’t dare go there in case the dentist will make things worse rather than better and ruin my teeth. I don’t trust them!
Do these statements apply to you? Maybe you suspect that past dental treatment was over-the-top or just plain unnecessary.
If you were a minor at the time, it is unlikely that you were asked for your opinion first. Or perhaps you’ve heard about the possibility of unnecessary treatment from the media or from someone else.
Let’s face it – overtreatment and even unnecessary treatment do exist. Having said that, it’s actually quite a rare occurrence in the UK nowadays. The same can’t be said for some other parts of the world.
Reasons for Unnecessary Treatment
There are a number of reasons why a dentist might suggest unnecessary or overzealous treatment:
- Financial incentives: Certain insurance schemes or dental plans can make unnecessary or overzealous treatment very tempting. Steer away from profit-driven corporate chains.
- Outdated training: Some dentists were trained to treat problems aggressively and believe that this is the best course of action. Fortunately, this has become much less commonplace.
- Unrealistic aesthetics: Some dentists (just like the general population) are influenced by ideals of photoshopped beauty and genuinely believe that this is an ideal to strive for.
- Financial gain: And some make up disease because they’re just plain greedy – like any other profession, dentistry has its bad apples.
But often, there are legitimate reasons why one dentist might suggest more or different treatments than another dentist.
As an example, if a dentist decides to watch areas that look a bit suspicious, and at follow-up appointments, they have become much worse, they might then decide that it’s better to treat things early on. Another dentist might observe that most of the time, suspicious-looking teeth do not get worse over time. So they decide it’s best not to treat unless it gets worse.
Dentists also tend to look at factors such as diet, dental history, and medical or psychological issues. As a result, two dentists may arrive at different treatment suggestions based on their personal experiences and opinions.
It’s Not Black and White
You might think that dentists fall into two camps: those who treat aggressively and those who treat conservatively. In reality, it’s more like a bell-shaped curve. There is a minority of dentists who overtreat at one end of the curve and a minority of dentists who undertreat at the other end.
But most dentists find a happy medium. Undertreatment can be just as bad as overtreatment because if small problems are not treated early enough, they can become big problems.
Why Modern Dentistry is So Much Gentler
Much has changed in dentistry over the last 25 years or so. The focus has shifted heavily towards prevention, with dentists trying to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible. They aim for a much gentler approach (unlike the olden days, when a good shove with the “poker” was considered part and parcel of a check-up).
This means there has been a huge move away from aggressively treating tooth decay that has only just started (to find out more, see here: How to prevent tooth decay from getting worse). In the past, even the tiniest beginnings of decay were treated with fillings. Nowadays, many dentists will help you reverse these early spots simply through better home care and diet.
There has also been a shift away from treating gum problems surgically, with a much greater emphasis on regular cleanings and home care instead.
When looking for a new dentist, always check their website to see what they say about their philosophy. An interest in preventing rather than just treating dental problems is generally a very good sign.
How can I make informed decisions if I know nothing about dentistry?
If unnecessary treatment is one of your big fears, there are ways of ensuring that it won’t happen (again).
Remember that it is your mouth and your health. You are ultimately responsible for making the right choices for you. Your dentist should act as an expert adviser, whose task it is to help you make those choices.
Your dentist should be happy to explain to you, in a language you can understand:
- why they are suggesting the treatment
- how it works
- what the options and alternatives are (including potential consequences of not having the treatment)
- what the pros and cons of available treatment options are
- and importantly, what they would choose for themselves if it was their mouth.
Only then can the two of you reach a joint treatment decision based on informed consent.
If you have any doubts over a dentist’s treatment suggestions, get a second opinion!
High-Tech Upselling: The Artificial Intelligence Trap
Lately, a new piece of technology has been popping up in dental clinics: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Nowadays, many dentists use AI software to help read X-rays. The program scans your image and draws brightly coloured boxes or circles around anything it thinks looks suspicious.
In theory, it’s a fantastic way to catch early warning signs. But in practice? It has introduced a brand-new way for profit-driven clinics to upsell you on dental work you don’t actually need.
Tech journalist Joanna Stern highlighted this exact trap in her 2026 book, I Am Not a Robot. During a routine check-up, her new dentist pointed to an AI-enhanced X-ray covered in alarming warning boxes. Using the software’s findings, the dentist tried to sell her treatment costing thousands of dollars. Suspicious, she went out and got some second opinions. The other dentists confirmed that the aggressive, expensive treatment plan was complete overkill.
Why it’s so easy to fall for: It is incredibly intimidating when a professional points to a high-tech screen and says, “Look, the computer flagged this. You need treatment.” It makes the diagnosis feel like cold, hard scientific fact rather than just one dentist’s subjective opinion.
If a dentist suddenly uses AI software to recommend extensive, expensive work – costing thousands of dollars or pounds – that you have never needed before, keep this in mind:
- AI spots things, but it doesn’t diagnose them. The computer might correctly highlight a shadow on your tooth, but it has no idea if that shadow is active tooth decay that needs drilling and filling, or just an old, harmless stain that simply needs to be kept an eye on.
- The software doesn’t write the treatment plan. The dentist does. A good, ethical dentist uses AI quietly as a “second pair of eyes.” An overly aggressive one uses the AI’s flashy, colour-coded boxes as a scare tactic to justify over-treating people.
The bottom line? If a computer suddenly says you need thousands of dollars or pounds in unexpected dental work, treat it exactly as you would if a human told you: go get a second opinion.
Tips for dealing with a fear of unnecessary treatment
- Read our tips: Check out our guide on finding a good dentist!
- Look for loupes: Find a dentist who wears loupes (glasses which look like binoculars). You may think of avoiding such dentists because the magnification might show up non-existent problems. But the opposite is the case: magnification allows dentists to be as conservative as possible, and preserve more tooth structure. Also, dentists who wear loupes tend to be more interested in keeping up with current trends and doing their best for their patients.
- Ask to see it: If your dentist suggests treatment and you’re in any doubt, let them show you why (using mirrors, x-rays or an intraoral camera). Of course, if you’re not ready (yet) to see that type of thing, say so!
- Beware of camera and AI sales pitches: Intraoral cameras and AI can be great tools. But the odd dentist abuses them as a marketing tool because it’s quite easy to use magnification and colour-coded imagery to make things look worse than they are in order to sell procedures. If in doubt, get a second opinion.
- Ask for simple explanations: If the problem is not readily apparent, for example, because it’s something going on inside a tooth, ask your dentist to explain it to you. They can use a drawing or describe the problem in simple terms.
- Ask what they would do if it was them: Ask your dentist which treatment (and which materials, if applicable) they would choose for themselves if they had the same problem, and why.
- Write things down: If you forgot to ask a question, write it down and ask it the next time you see your dentist, or send them an email.
- Take your time: Don’t make any decisions about your treatment on the spot if you are unsure. You are entitled to thinking time. Go home and read up on suggested treatment options, or ask on our forum. Animated Teeth is a good website for detailed information about the pros and cons of various dental procedures.
- Know your rights: It is your right as a patient to decline any treatment you don’t want. However, you cannot sign away your right to proper treatment, or make unreasonable requests. Dentists are bound by a code of ethics, and they are not allowed to fail to provide the proper treatment upon a patient’s request.
A Helpful Way to Think About It: The Roofer Analogy
Standing your ground with a dentist can feel incredibly intimidating. If you struggle to find your voice in the practice, try shifting your perspective and imagine you are dealing with a roofer.
If you called a roofer out to look at a small leak, and they suddenly told you the entire roof needed replacing for £10,000, you wouldn’t just hand over your bank card and agree on the spot. You would probably say, “I need to think about it,” and you would call another company to get a second quote.
We accept that getting three different quotes is just standard, everyday common sense when it comes to our houses – even though most of us know absolutely nothing about roofing! Yet, for some reason, we feel cheeky or rude doing the exact same thing for our own health.
The catch: What about the cost?
There is, of course, one big difference: a roofer will usually give you a free quote, whereas seeing a second dentist will usually cost you a consultation fee. If money is tight, this can feel like a huge barrier.
However, you can keep costs down by asking your current dentist for a copy of your X-rays and treatment plan (which you have a legal right to) and emailing them to the second practice. This saves you paying for new X-rays. Ultimately, paying for a consultation is often a very worthwhile investment to avoid paying thousands for unnecessary treatment.
You are hiring the dentist for a service, just like you would a roofer. You are the customer, and it is your body. If a treatment plan sounds suspiciously aggressive or incredibly expensive, remember the leaky roof. You don’t have to agree right then and there.
Your “Second Opinion” Checklist: Questions to Ask
Taking a list of questions to your appointment can help you feel grounded and in control. If a dentist recommends a surprising or expensive procedure, you always have the right to pause and ask:
- “Can we ‘watch and wait’?” Ask if the issue needs immediate treatment, or if it is something you can safely monitor over your next few check-ups.
- “What are the less invasive alternatives?” Ask if there are simpler, more conservative options available to try first.
- “Can you show me exactly where the problem is?” Ask them to point it out on your X-ray or with a camera. A good dentist will happily explain what they see without rushing you.
- “What happens if we do nothing right now?” An ethical professional will honestly explain the actual risks of waiting, rather than using high-pressure scare tactics.
- “Can I get a copy of my X-rays and treatment plan?” You have a legal right to your dental records. Asking for them is the easiest way to gather exactly what you need to get a second opinion from another practice.
Remember: A trustworthy dentist will welcome these questions and take the time to answer them. If a dentist gets defensive or pressures you to make a decision there and then, that is your sign to seek a second opinion.
Visit our support forum to get help with this and other fears, or to simply get things off your chest!