B
bel333la
Junior member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- RI
Hello!
The dentist that I have been seeing for the past year and a half has made me feel uncomfortable in her office several times. I have very bad dental anxiety, and rather than put me at ease, she gets defensive and seemingly offended when I try to ask questions or show concern. I will say I have never had an issue with the dental work she has done on me, however I feel anxious anytime I express a concern to her. I'm told to just trust her and stop obsessing, rather than receiving a proper explanation to address my concerns.
I recently noticed that it looked like I was developing a cavity in-between my teeth on a bottom molar that had already been filled. There's some discoloration on part of the filling and a black spot in between my teeth, I was worried the filling had been reinfected, or that not all of the decay was removed when I had it filled just a year and a half ago. I set and appointment to have her take a look at it and she said this was a precavity on the tooth next to this molar, that didn't need to be filled right now. She said it hadn't gone through the enamal yet, and it could be remineralzed. When I asked how I could go about remineraliIng the tooth, she said "you seem very interested in this topic, you should take a seminar about this". She was basing this on the X-ray, and only even physically looked at my tooth because I asked her to.
Before this appointment, I had already set an appointment for a second option with a smaller mother and son practice. I was frustrated and confused, as I had a cleaning and xrays 6 months prior, and I was confused as to how they would miss this black spot between my teeth. Im very obsessive and when it comes to my teeth, due to having many fillings and a root canal at a young age. I couldn't understand how this would go unnoticed or develop so quick with the level of care I take at home. And I already have a weird relationship with my current dentist, so I thought it might be good to find someone who I was more comfortable with anyway.
At the appointment for the second option, the dentist explained to me that the cavity is on the molar with the filling in between the teeth, and has gone through the enamal and should be filled, along with one other cavity on another tooth they had found. He said I have several precavitys that they would hold off on filling unless they develop further, but to fill these two cavities. I don't understand how these could develop to the point of needing to be filled in only 6 months unless my other dentist just completely missed them. I floss, brush, use a water pik, tongue scraper, and oil pull each day. However I do have a history of needing fillings.
I have the appointment scheduled for next week to have them filled, and I feel like I should have waited to make this appointment. Im very unsure of what to do. On one hand I have a history of feeling disrespected and unheard by my current dentist, but she seems to have a less invasive approach. I felt more comfortable at this new dental office, but I'm nervous to get unnecessary work done. The new dentist did show me my X-rays and explained his option. I did notice the cavities, but one dentist is telling me they're not deep enough to fill, and another thinks they should be filled.
My question is who's opinion do I trust? Should I just get them filled, or stick with my current dentist even through I'm unhappy with the way she speaks to me. Do I get a third opinion? This whole situation has been tormenting me and any advice would be greatly appreciated
The dentist that I have been seeing for the past year and a half has made me feel uncomfortable in her office several times. I have very bad dental anxiety, and rather than put me at ease, she gets defensive and seemingly offended when I try to ask questions or show concern. I will say I have never had an issue with the dental work she has done on me, however I feel anxious anytime I express a concern to her. I'm told to just trust her and stop obsessing, rather than receiving a proper explanation to address my concerns.
I recently noticed that it looked like I was developing a cavity in-between my teeth on a bottom molar that had already been filled. There's some discoloration on part of the filling and a black spot in between my teeth, I was worried the filling had been reinfected, or that not all of the decay was removed when I had it filled just a year and a half ago. I set and appointment to have her take a look at it and she said this was a precavity on the tooth next to this molar, that didn't need to be filled right now. She said it hadn't gone through the enamal yet, and it could be remineralzed. When I asked how I could go about remineraliIng the tooth, she said "you seem very interested in this topic, you should take a seminar about this". She was basing this on the X-ray, and only even physically looked at my tooth because I asked her to.
Before this appointment, I had already set an appointment for a second option with a smaller mother and son practice. I was frustrated and confused, as I had a cleaning and xrays 6 months prior, and I was confused as to how they would miss this black spot between my teeth. Im very obsessive and when it comes to my teeth, due to having many fillings and a root canal at a young age. I couldn't understand how this would go unnoticed or develop so quick with the level of care I take at home. And I already have a weird relationship with my current dentist, so I thought it might be good to find someone who I was more comfortable with anyway.
At the appointment for the second option, the dentist explained to me that the cavity is on the molar with the filling in between the teeth, and has gone through the enamal and should be filled, along with one other cavity on another tooth they had found. He said I have several precavitys that they would hold off on filling unless they develop further, but to fill these two cavities. I don't understand how these could develop to the point of needing to be filled in only 6 months unless my other dentist just completely missed them. I floss, brush, use a water pik, tongue scraper, and oil pull each day. However I do have a history of needing fillings.
I have the appointment scheduled for next week to have them filled, and I feel like I should have waited to make this appointment. Im very unsure of what to do. On one hand I have a history of feeling disrespected and unheard by my current dentist, but she seems to have a less invasive approach. I felt more comfortable at this new dental office, but I'm nervous to get unnecessary work done. The new dentist did show me my X-rays and explained his option. I did notice the cavities, but one dentist is telling me they're not deep enough to fill, and another thinks they should be filled.
My question is who's opinion do I trust? Should I just get them filled, or stick with my current dentist even through I'm unhappy with the way she speaks to me. Do I get a third opinion? This whole situation has been tormenting me and any advice would be greatly appreciated
