Unecessary treatment?(UK)?!

Unecessary treatment?(UK)?

do you think dentists ever do fillings which are not needed?(to get the money) i have just come back from getting 2 fillings,and was just thinking that there is no way i could know if they were genuine or not!. i just took his word for it.the teeth were right at the sides,so i can't see them.not saying he was being dishonest,but maybe some dentists are!!
what do you think?

HMMM, good question. However, there is an ethical side to this. Most dentists-being the professionals they trained to become ARE honest. There are some that do production work-they want to use their trade like a factory--in and out. More is better. Sometimes this is due to the very very poor insurance reimbursements. Other times, it is greed and inferior techniques. Ask where the dentist went to school and when-it can be an indication and he/she should be proud to tell you. BUT, the way to tell a good one is make sure FIRST that the instruments are sterilized (best way is to use the same technique as hospitals do-Autoclave). Then, whenever treatment is suggested an xray MUST be taken prior to the filling. This is the only in depth way to "see" how much decay is there. Maybe the decay was only on the biting surface. There are five surfaces to a tooth and any or all of them could be involved in restoration. The cost is comparable to the size of the filling. If you have had continuing care though, the filling should not be that large. Its best to treat a small bit of decay when found. The dentist should examine the area and show you this for you to feel comfortable and understand. One of the best ways to feel more secure is to know your professional...visit for your routine visits 2 x year. Dont go only when you have a concern or pain. And ask questions. A terrific dentist will welcome them and want to explain. On the other hand, be careful if treatment is pushed or threatened. You can always have another opinion. Remember, too, the newer fillings are usually composites that when completed look exactly like natural teeth. Unfortunately, we here in the states dont always see really well taken care of teeth from Europe. Good for you and keep your teeth healthy. You need them for life.