To think a filling is unnecessary

[MalteserThief]

I may well BU

I've just gone to a new dentist (my last one was fab, and six months ago I had no dental issues). So the new dentist has told me that I've got a small hole in my molar, and I need a filling in the next few weeks.

The thing is, I've had no pain and the tooth in question isn't bothering me

Is she ripping me off (I pay for my treatment) or are preventative fillings a thing?

Get a second opinion, surely?

But it isn't preventative if you have a cavity in your tooth.

@jigglytuff the cavity is in her words "teeny tiny" and only on the surface level iyswim

Get a second opinion if you're not sure but they won't fill healthy teeth. It might be small now but they get bigger and deeper and if it reaches the pulp it will hurt.

She might be a better dentist and has noticed you need the work.
The hole may have developed over the last 6 months.

I'd rather have it sealed. You don't be able to clean it properly and it will decay as a result. Easier and painless now.

I got a tiny hole filled to prevent it becoming an issue. My dentist said it would probably get bigger so it's better to fill it early.

There's no point in waiting. It will get bigger. It's great it's been caught early. I'd get it done immediately.

It'll get worse without a filling.

Often your teeth won't bother you even if they need a major filling. Only one of my teeth has ever caused me pain, and I've had countless fillings (the outside of my teeth developed well, but the inside didn't, so more susceptible to problems than most).

So you didn't have a cavity six months ago, now you have a tiny one, six months time it might still be fine or you might have an abscess and be facing root canal treatment. Ultimately your teeth your choice.

Get a second opinion.

My previous dentist was giving me white fillings everytime I went even tho I never had any pain etc. The last time I saw her she recommended yet another white filling, I asked if I could just have the not amalgam black filling due to my maternity exemption expiring and not being able to afford it. She looked shocked that I was having to pay myself and looked a bit shifty. So I went to a different dentist.

New dentist gave me a check up and said all was fine. I then pointed out the tooth that the previous dentist had said needed filling, to be told the tooth was fine no decay there at all. second dentist was obviously right because 6 years on the tooth is still fine and still no filling!!

Second opinion. I've had similar and a different dentist had a really good look inclusing x-rays and said it was fine. Also no pain (years after this happened too).

I think in some instances these things can reverse with good oral hygiene?

Personally I would wait until your next check up (if you go 6 monthly) and see where you are at that point. I am sure that cavities do not suddenly get really massive, their evolution can be quite slow and the actual process of filling is not without it's drawbacks.

As a child my dentist would "put a watch" on teeth presumably for this reason. I only have one filling.

SuperBeagle
It'll get worse without a filling.

Not necessarily. I have a tiny dot of a hole on one of my bottom molars which has never been treated or got worse. Sometimes something called remineralization occurs and a cavity might not need to be filled. I would ask your dentist some more questions about your tooth and see somebody else if you aren't satisfied with the answers.

Whosthemummy - I hope you reported that dentist!

Just leave it and when you get pain you will know she was right

Dentists are about preventing pain and decay not doing unnecessary work.

I'm pretty sure the cost of a second dentist and X-rays would be comparable to that of a small filling would it not?

Check up & X rays are band 1 around £20 these days
Fillings are band 2, around £60

They're much closer in price in Scotland, X-rays are about £5 and a small filling about £7.50