16 Red Flags That You Should Get a Dentist’s Second Opinion

Dentist Tips |11 min read

published September 8, 2021Last updated November 4, 2022

In the June 2021 edition of Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and website, an article entitled “65 Things You Probably Shouldn’t Pay For… This text opens a new tab to the article…” stated the following:

“Be suspicious if a new dentist recommends far more treatment than your previous one—for instance, if suddenly many fillings need to be replaced, several teeth need to be crowned, or your gums need extensive surgery. This is an area where we receive frequent complaints in our surveys of patients.

 

To help you decide on a treatment, your dentist should fully describe the condition of your mouth and all treatment options, including those that might cost less. If a dentist recommends extensive treatment, get a second opinion. ”

The following are suggestions to help you avoid excessive or undesired treatment.

Use these suggestions to help you get the highest quality dental care.

When to get a second opinion on dental work

1. The number one warning sign is when you sit in a dentist’s chair for the first time and are told you need procedures you have never needed before.

If you rarely have cavities and are told that you need quite a few fillings at your first appointment, I suggest you see it as a red flag.

2. A common pattern is dentists who use a deeply discounted dental hygiene appointment and checkup to get you in the door. Once you are in the chair, you may be hit with thousands of dollars of work that you did not anticipate. Ask a lot of questions.

3. If you’re diagnosed as needing to replace old fillings, ask for pictures and x-rays. Some dentists try to replace all of your fillings simply because they’re older fillings. This is not necessary if they’re not causing problems.

Certainly, there are old fillings that can crack or become surrounded by decay, necessitating a replacement. Still, a dentist should be able to present to you intra-oral pictures and x-rays, which show the need for replacing fillings.

Some people fear mercury in silver-colored fillings. The American Dental Association states on their popular informative guide to dental health, MouthHealthy… This text opens a new tab to the MouthHealthy website…:

“Although dental amalgam is a safe, commonly used dental material, you may wonder about its mercury content. It’s important to know that when combined with the other metals, it forms a safe, stable material. Be assured that credible scientific studies affirm the safety of dental amalgam. Study after study shows amalgam is safe and effective for filling cavities. The American Dental Association… This text opens a new tab to the ADA website…, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization all agree that based on extensive scientific evidence, dental amalgam is a safe and effective cavity-filling material. The Alzheimer’s Association… This text opens a new tab to the Alzheimer’s Association website…, American Academy of Pediatrics, Autism Society of America and National Multiple Sclerosis Society… This text opens a new tab to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website…—all science-based organizations like the ADA—also say that amalgam poses no health risk. As with any dental work, you’ll always want to talk with your dentist about your individual situation in order to make the most well-informed choice.”

4. Does your dentist clearly communicate with you about any treatment suggested and why it is necessary? Do you feel rushed or welcome to talk about findings?

5. Are you in a no-judgment office? Do not be intimidated if you have neglected to get dental care. You have the right to expect all dental team members to make you feel comfortable and be attentive and supportive.

What’s important is that you want your dental needs attended to now. Do not settle for any guilt, judgments, or intimidating remarks from any dental team member.

6. It’s a red flag if you are sitting in a waiting room for 45 minutes or longer and then taken to a treatment room and you wait another 45 minutes or longer.

I’d be concerned that the office is overbooking to maximize profit and not treating patients with respect due.

If this happens once or twice because of emergencies, it’s understandable. If it’s oftentimes, I wouldn’t want to go to a practice that overbooks consistently.

7. A dentist you can trust should be comfortable if you express that you want a second opinion. Your dentist should not hesitate to forward x-rays to another dentist.

We would always agree to do so at The Silberman Dental Group. It’s our standard of practice to give no-cost second opinions.

If we agree with the treatment plan presented to you when you come in for a second opinion, we’ll absolutely advise you to return to the practitioner you first went to. We have sent people back to see the first dentist who recommended treatment on numerous occasions.

Dr. Paul Silberman and Dr. Daniel Barakh have expressed they personally enjoy serving as a second opinion and then returning patients to their original dentist. Knowing the patient feels good because they are reassured that their treatment plan is needed feels gratifying to each of them.

In our office, we recommend you do one of two things if you want a second opinion. Either:

• Come in with your treatment plan and directly ask our opinion.
• Do not show us your treatment plan. Hang onto what was suggested at another office and compare it to what our treatment plan is. Then you decide once you have compared and asked questions.

8. You can research the dentist online. Read reviews and see how the dental practice responds to both praise and criticism.

A negative review does not mean the practice doesn’t have integrity because you don’t know the private details regarding a patient.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPPA, ensures confidentiality and greatly limits what can be said about a specific patient.

A dentist’s response to a negative review might convince you to see that dentist because of the general details given as well as the concern and poise shown in the response.

If you choose to look at reviews… This text opens The Silberman Dental Group Google Maps with reviews in a new tab …, consider the number of reviews. Is the dental practice ranked as five stars with only three reviews, or is it a dental practice with 4 or five stars with many reviews?

You can never make everyone happy, so I want to see a dentist with high rankings and quite a lot of reviews.

Are the patients giving details in the positive reviews letting the reader know why they feel comfortable in the practice?

9. Is your dentist giving you more than one option? There certainly are times when there is not an option. Ask for alternatives and why one treatment would be better than another.

There will be times when a dentist gives more than one option.

Perhaps an implant is the best option. However, if you cannot afford an implant, there is likely another option, such as a fixed bridge or a partial denture.

Remember that a root canal and the subsequent crown needed after a root canal is more lucrative and easy to pass by an insurance company if the dentist claims the patient was in pain, even if a filling would have done the job.

It may be well worth the time and effort you put into getting a second opinion to be sure you’re getting the appropriate dental treatment plan. Even a third opinion is sometimes a good idea.

10. When you leave a dental office, are you told that you’re welcome to call if there are questions? Are you clear about what needs to be done step by step?

At The Silberman Dental Group, we offer a no-cost follow-up after your consultation via a virtual visit with the dentist or a phone call from our dentists. We do this so that we can further explain whatever questions a patient might have. It’s no bother.

As Dr. Barakh explains,

“We’re thrilled you have taken an interest in your oral health and want to understand fully the options available to you!”

11. Insurance plans put incentives in place for in-network dentists. When dentists become part of these networks, they agree to extremely low reimbursements in exchange for a steady stream of patients.

Some dental practices, particularly large dental chains or franchise offices, use deals as a way to get patients in the door and then may give expensive treatment plans. Or the practice may heavily promote cosmetic work.

It can be more expensive to go to a dentist who participates with your insurance network because of additional work suggested than going to a dentist you know gives you an accurate diagnosis.

12. It may be a red flag if a patient in their late 70s or older goes to a dental practice that gives an extensive treatment plan, including Invisalign (orthodontic treatment).

If that person has not benefited from orthodontic work all these years, it’s doubtful that Invisalign should be proposed. We know many seniors who have much vitality and enjoy an active lifestyle and would think that pressure to get orthodontic work is just unnecessary and might be a red flag.

13. Our office no longer participates in network with a few insurance companies because Dr. Silberman and Dr. Barakh oftentimes felt the person making a decision about whether to pay for treatment was thinking only about profit for the insurance company and not about what was in the best interest of the patient. They will not be dictated to by people hired to make a profit for the insurance company.

Examples include a patient who wanted fixed bridge work. The insurance policy covered fixed bridge work. However, the insurance would only pay for a partial denture that comes in and out and is not as comfortable as a fixed bridge. Forcing the patient to have a partial denture instead of fixed bridgework would be much more profitable for the insurance though not best for our patient.

Another example is patients want white fillings, and some insurance companies will only pay for silver fillings on back teeth. They haven’t been teaching how to place a silver filling in dental schools for at least 20 years. Many newer offices don’t even have the silver in stock. It’s absurd that modern resin white fillings are not approved by the insurance company when it is considered the standard of care by The American Dental Association.

14. Modern technology makes dentistry more precise and comfortable than ever before. If you are experiencing a dentist who is rough or dental treatment that’s exceptionally painful, it may be a red flag.

15. Many offices that are open six to seven days a week hire young dentists who tend to leave after a short time. They’re likely fine dentists but don’t like working on quotas or may dislike the management style of large corporate and/or franchised dental practices.

If you are going to a dental practice that seems to have dentists and employees leave often, it may be a red flag.

16. How do you feel about the team working with the dentist you’re seeing? Does it seem as though the team works well together? Are team members smiling or looking like they cannot wait to finish their workday?

We know that our team chose a helping profession and respect them for doing so. They can make a huge difference in our patients’ lives, helping them have positive attitudes about dental treatment and positive outcomes.

At The Silberman Dental Group, our team members know our dentists and office administrator respects them and wants the office to be an upbeat, positive environment. When we hire professionals and stress excellence, we’re helping to make dentistry a lot less scary.

Do you need a dentist’s second opinion?

Most dentists are honest and hardworking. Their values drive their decisions for their dental practice.

It’s not our intent to suggest that you’re being overdiagnosed; it’s only our desire to help you know when to seek a second opinion and when to trust your gut that there are some red flags for you to consider.

Dr. Silberman recently had a patient who went to another dental practice because we no longer were in network with his insurance company. The patient expressed feeling foolish for allowing the other dentist from a different practice to do some work.

Please, listen:

This is not about intellect. It’s about a betrayal of trust!

Dentistry is not scary! What is scary is having an unhealthy smile because the health of your mouth impacts your general health.

Book a complimentary second opinion today

Contact our dentists in Waldorf, MD!

Request an Appointment

Or you can:

• Request a virtual consultation
• Call us: 301-885-2505
• Email us: [email protected]

Our dentists are located in Waldorf, MD and see patients from across the state, including Charlotte Hall, White Plains, La Plata, Brandywine, Accokeek, and Mechanicsville.

Should You Get a Second Opinion for Dental Work?

You’re sitting in the dentist’s chair and get bad news: they’ve found an issue (or issues!) and you need dental work done. The dentist assures you that everything is necessary to restore your oral health, but you can’t help but wonder — am I getting good advice?

Dental work can be invasive and expensive, leaving many patients with sticker shock. Some may even feel they are being “over-treated” or “over-diagnosed” with unnecessary procedures.

Dentists are medical professionals who should have your best interest in mind, but patients concerned about the cost or intensity of their treatment can always seek a second opinion to compare recommendations and make a more informed decision.

Is it OK to get a second opinion from a dentist?

Yes! There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion from a dentist, especially if major dental work is being proposed. A good dentist will understand that you are making an important decision about your health and want you to feel confident about moving forward with their suggested treatment.

Will dental insurance pay for a second opinion?

It might. It depends on the insurance provider and plan. You should contact your insurance provider directly to find out if they will pay for you to get a second opinion.

At DGY Dentistry, we encourage patients to have a full understanding of their benefits.

When to get a second opinion from a dentist

Getting a second opinion from a dentist is generally a good idea if:

• you are concerned that the proposed dental work is too invasive
• your current dentist is not willing to clearly communicate your treatment options
• you feel your current dentist is being too forceful or aggressive when making their recommendations

Education is key. When you have a full understanding of the scope of work and have been given options for restoring, you are empowered to make a good decision for yourself.

Should I get a second opinion on a root canal?

A root canal is a more invasive dental procedure, so it is reasonable to want a second opinion if you are unsure about moving forward. When looking for a second opinion dentist, look for a root canal specialist with more advanced training in endodontics (root canal treatment). They can best assess the severity of the infection and determine if an alternative treatment is possible.

Should I get a second opinion on dental implants?

Getting a dental implant is a multi-step procedure that requires surgical, restorative, and prosthodontic dental knowledge. It is reasonable to get a second opinion if you are unsure about your current dentist’s diagnosis or want to consider other dentists for the procedure.

When seeking a second opinion, look for a dentist who understands the different stages of the dental implant process and has experience with both surgical and cosmetic dental procedures.

Should I get a second opinion on cavities?

Whether you get a second opinion on your cavities is up to you. A second dentist may have a different opinion on whether a cavity needs a filling or simply be monitored.

How to get a second opinion from a dentist

• Find another dentist near you and schedule an appointment for a second opinion. Let the office staff know the purpose of your visit when making the appointment.
• Arrange to have your X-rays transferred to the second dentist.
• When attending the appointment, bring your current dentist’s proposed treatment plan so you can compare recommendations and ask questions.

Your second opinion dentist will first need to understand what you are looking for: Is prevention important? Longevity of dentistry? Once they understand those basics they can present the choices you have to restore your oral health.

Too many dentists want to solve and tell the patient what they “need”, but listening is key. At DGY Dentistry, we look to understand what the patient wants to have for themselves, then share information so they can decide what is best for them.

How to get X-rays transferred to a different dentist for a second opinion

Contact your current dental office and ask them to transfer your X-rays to the dentist who will be giving a second opinion. This is a reasonable request and should not be an issue for either dental office.

Second opinion dentist near me

DGY Dentistry Ann Arbor is happy to help patients who want a second opinion. We pride ourselves in clearly communicating your procedures and choices with no-pressure consultations and transparent payment options. Your comfort, safety, and trust are our top priorities.

Our Ann Arbor dental office is conveniently located on Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor, providing easy access to surrounding Washtenaw County and the larger Southeast Michigan area.

Contact Us Today for a No-Pressure Consultation

Looking for a new dentist near Ann Arbor, Michigan? (734) 971-3450 or request an appointment

Program “Doctor’s Second Opinion” – a free service in ImplantTime dentistry

In our clinic you can use the “Second Opinion” service:

• Get a consultation and a second opinion on an already prepared treatment plan;
• Get another treatment plan from experienced doctors to compare with the one you had at another clinic;
• Get answers to your questions;
• Get advice from dentists: therapists, implantologists, surgeons, orthopedists and other doctors;
• Verify that the procedures prescribed or carried out are correct;
• Dispel your doubts and fears.

The “Second Opinion Dentist” service in our clinic is completely free. You just need to make an appointment for a consultation at a convenient time for you.

Finding the perfect dentistry and your doctor is quite a challenge. Will the clinic really solve real problems, and not heal in order to get more money? Will the treatment be of high quality and durable? Are doctors qualified enough to entrust complex treatment to them? We are not afraid to talk about these issues, because they concern patients – and we have something to say.

1. Is it possible to check the diagnosis made in another dentistry?

We support the practice of “second opinion” – when a patient seeks advice from another doctor to make sure that the diagnosis made in another clinic is correct. This is especially important when carrying out procedures such as implantation in the absence of teeth.

We conduct free consultations and draw up a treatment plan for free, because we consider it incorrect to take money for talking. Our patients pay only for the treatment, whether it is a filling or one-stage implantation – when we restore teeth in one day.

2. Is it possible to get implants inexpensively?

Can! Our clinic contracts directly with the manufacturer of premium implants, Nobel Biocare. We do not use the services of intermediaries and conclude contracts for very favorable deliveries, which allows us to keep affordable prices for high quality implantation.

By the way, all prices in our price list are turnkey only: no overpayments, surcharges, hidden or unexpected payments! The price for treatment, named by the doctor at the consultation, will not change.

3. Does bone augmentation and tooth extraction increase the cost of implantation?

Most often, yes, but only in our clinic, bone growth and tooth extraction are included in the cost of implantation. This is how we make smile restoration affordable for patients with bone loss or severely decayed teeth. We often perform simultaneous implantation in such cases.

4. Is there a risk of imposing additional services or “treating” healthy teeth?

Our credo is to treat patients, not to “provide services for money”. We do everything that is necessary for the success of the treatment, and we always strive to save the patient’s own teeth.

5. How to choose a clinic and dentist?

Two key points:

• availability of modern equipment, materials, drugs, diagnostic tools;
• great experience and high qualification of doctors who know the actual methods of treatment.

We are proud of the level of training of our dentists and their ability to work in a team, conducting complex treatment.

6. Will they help in difficult cases?

It is these conditions – excellent equipment and an excellent team – that allow us to successfully work with even the most difficult clinical cases, including complete loss of teeth. To restore a smile, we use proven methods:

We are responsible for the quality of work – for example, our clinic provides a lifetime warranty on implants. We have the same approach to all procedures – from professional hygiene to prosthetics.

Second opinion in dentistry | How to get a dental consultation in Belgium

The most striking example of the importance of a second opinion in dentistry is probably the story of four-year-old Canadian girl Lily from Ottawa. For this girl, the dentist wanted to remove a milk tooth (!) under general anesthesia (!) simply because a chip formed on this tooth after falling from a bicycle.

And here the point is not even that the dentist estimated his work at 3200 US dollars (1200 only for anesthesia), but that general anesthesia for a child at 4 years old is too much stress.

Everything ended well in this story. Lily’s parents were skeptical of the dentist’s point of view and sought a second opinion. Another dentist simply restored a chipped tooth with a photopolymer without anesthesia. Parents had to pay for this space (as they jokingly reported) 250 Canadian dollars.

This is of course a glaring case. But he does a good job of showing that even in obvious cases, divergence in the approaches of different doctors can play a key role in the patient’s health.

When to seek a second opinion in dentistry

Implantation

Jaw implant placement is a popular method of dental prosthetics. It has many advantages. But he also has contraindications and his shortcomings, which appear in certain cases.

For example, placing a root implant in the jaw after several years of missing teeth in that area will not produce the desired results without additional bone restoration. If you do not build up the bone after its atrophy, the implant will not last long and the forces spent on an expensive procedure will be wasted.

But the opposite situation is also possible, when additional osteoregeneration is prescribed without sufficient grounds, simply to inflate the final bill.

A second opinion may provide a more informed understanding of the procedure being performed and provide the patient with options for treatment.

Orthodontics

Correction of the bite and shape of the dentition is a long and expensive procedure. But the most important thing is that it can be carried out in several different ways. Comfort (or lack of it) for many months will depend on the correct type of braces. And what’s more, it can affect the persistence of the effect achieved.

Therefore, when determining the method of correcting the bite, it is perfectly normal to seek a second opinion.

New treatments

Dentistry has changed a lot in the last few years. In almost all areas of dentistry – be it implantation, restorative or orthodontic dentistry – new, gentler methods have proven themselves along with proven classic methods that have been known for many years. The constant development of innovative methods of treatment and technology makes it necessary for the doctor to decide which treatment will be not only the most effective, but also the most comfortable for the patient.

This can lead to the fact that the dentist or orthodontist will recommend different solutions to the patient, which will put the latter before a choice, which is very difficult to make without a certain level of knowledge.

In such cases, it is also possible to obtain a second opinion from a dentist or orthodontist on the advantages and disadvantages of one or another modern dental or oral treatment technology, in relation to the particular case of a particular patient.

Oncological diseases of the maxillofacial region or suspicion of them

Treatment of oncological diseases of the mouth is associated with the risk of obtaining an aesthetic or severe functional defect. Removal of part of the upper or lower jaw during surgery or the development of mucositis during radiation therapy can lead to the impossibility of normal nutrition or speech disorders.

But a radical operation is not always justified. It is often possible to achieve a minimal risk of cancer recurrence and without irreversible consequences. Whether this is possible in the case of a particular patient will help determine whether a second opinion is obtained.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

In this area of ​​dentistry, the doctor has several ways to achieve his goal. But for the patient, only one of them can become optimal.

The correct construction of the tactics of the operation depends on the qualifications, experience and preferences of the surgeon. Therefore, it is useful for the patient to request a second opinion if an oral surgery is required. At least in order to appreciate the benefits of an alternative approach.

How to get a second opinion in dentistry

All branches of medicine are arranged in such a way, so prepared that the use of one of the methods is more successful for those who combine it with other aspects of their art.

Andreas Vesalius

Consultation with a dentist in a clinic abroad is possible both during an in-person visit of the patient and remotely.

Face-to-face consultation

It allows the doctor to assess the condition of the oral tissues, to conduct a visual and instrumental examination. With such counseling, you can get a more detailed and accurate assessment of the condition.

Remote consultation

In this case, medical documents containing the opinion of the first doctor, orthopantomogram, CT or MRI images (if oncopathology is suspected), etc. are sent to an expert dentist in a foreign clinic.

The doctor evaluates the data provided and gives his opinion conclusion on a probable diagnosis and possible treatment tactics.

In some cases, it is worth starting with a remote consultation, at which the need for a personal visit of the patient to a clinic abroad will be determined.

Benefits of a second opinion in dentistry in Belgium

Top-notch experts and clinics

Belgian dentists have earlier access to technology than most of their peers in the CIS countries. This enables them to better evaluate the appropriateness of their application.

Experience and reputation

Dentists in clinics in Belgium have international (European) certification, which guarantees the patient’s condition to be considered by a highly qualified specialist. The doctor needs to confirm his status with a certain frequency. This motivates dentists in Belgium to devote sufficient time to their development.

Commitment to the principles of the minimum necessary intervention

European surgeons are less inclined towards radical operations than doctors in the CIS or the USA. Therefore, the priority of the Belgian doctors of maxillofacial surgery is operations with maximum preservation of the integrity of the anatomical structures and functionality of the maxillofacial region.

High level of development of reconstructive surgery

After surgical treatment of dental diseases, there may be a need for reconstructive surgery. This is especially true when it comes to cancer.