Expert: Jeff Dalin DDS - 5/7/2004

Question
I had a dental cleaning 9 months ago from a close friend dental hygenist and my uncle (who is her boss and the head dentist of the clinic).  At the time, my exam came up clean, my teeth were in good shape.  I had asked the hygenist and my uncle about the "stains" in the crevices of my back molars and both told me, these were merely stains and that the xrays were not coming up with anything, also the touch test was showing nothing (it wasn't sticking to the instrument).
Today I just got back from a new dentist down here in austin texas (my other dentist was in massachusetts).  I was told that I have 8  molars STARTING with superficial cavities.  Although the dentist and the hygenist could NOT show me that the x-rays proved this to be the case, the dentist told me he believed we would be preventative by putting superficial fillings on all 8 teeth.  I feel like I'm getting scammed here...I called my dentist and the hygenist up in massachusetts...to ask if it's possible that in 8 months my teeth have gone to crap.  I have NEVER had a cavity and brush my teeth 3 times a day!  Does this sound like a scam to you?  Are there any tests besides xrays and the "stick" test to tell if there are cavities?

Answer
Annah,
I would get a second opinion...I would tend to believe your first dentist. Stain does not mean decay. Plus the new dentist called them superficial fillings. I am not sure what that means. A filling is needed when there is decay extending into the dentin, or second layer of the tooth. If something is just in enamel, you do not need to fill it. Xrays and feeling with an explorer are the two best ways. You can always put things off 6-12 months and recheck things then. If it is not decay then there will be no change. If it is decay, then the cavities might be a little bit larger...but not too large. Good Luck

Jeff Dalin, DDS