Suddenly need fillings - does this seem right?

[TheLeadbetterLife]

I have a couple of fillings from 25-30 years ago, when I was a child. Since then I’ve had no problems with my teeth whatsoever.

A week or so ago I went to the dentist for a routine check up and clean, and he said I needed six fillings. This is a new dentist, and he didn’t take an X-ray.

Last year and the year before at my previous dentists they said everything looked good. I had one small cavity but was told it didn’t need treatment yet.

Is it possible for my teeth to suddenly go to shit like that? It’s weird because I’m eating far fewer refined carbs and less sugar than I used to, having changed my diet and lost a lot of weight.

The only big difference is that where I’ve been living for the past couple of years we have a private water supply, so no fluoride except in our toothpaste.

My husband was also told by the same dentist that he needs two fillings, having never had one before, or any other tooth problems.

Does this seem rum, is the dentist trying it on, or can this happen all of a sudden? I am 40, husband is 35. Could it be some kind of weird bacterial thing, or just the lack of fluoride?

Has your oral hygiene been diligent in recent years? Do you use enough toothpaste and brush for two minutes, twice per day?
Have you replaced refined sugars with fruit? They also contain sugar which can lead to decay.
So yes it's possible but it does seem rather alarming.
A second opinion would be worthwhile.

No haven’t replaced sugar with fruit. Oral hygiene has been the same as before, which had apparently been fine! Two minutes, electric toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste.

I’ve got no tooth pain or anything suggesting a problem. Shouldn’t he have taken an X-ray before declaring I need fillings though? Or can they tell just from the exterior?

Are you on any new or changed medicines ?

A silent side-effect of a lot of medicines is that they mess up the pH in the mouth, or leave the mouth slightly drier than is optimal. Either way it's a fast track to cavities.

Neither of us is on any medication.

As soon as you said "new dentist" red flags were waving.

Get a second opinion is my advice.

Second opinion definitely.

I went to a new dentist when I was living overseas, was told I needed a mouthful of fillings. I refused to believe my teeth had deteriorated that much in 6 months and didn’t go back to her. Came home, saw my regular practice and 20 years later still have had no need to all those fillings

Second opinion definitely. Is your new dentist NHS or private?

Private, but not U.K. my dentist back in the U.K. was NHS.

Private dentist, says it all...

Hmm, I’ll try another dentist. They’re all private here I think, unless you’re on benefits. I was anticipating one filling, based on what the previous one had said, but six seems worrying. Hope he’s just trying to gouge me, rather than it actually being the case that my teeth are falling out of my head.

It's odd to diagnose that number of issues and not take any x rays. If I saw a patient who suddenly needed that amount of work, I'd get x rays ASAP tbh.

Second opinion sounds right OP.

@lightand

As soon as you said "new dentist" red flags were waving.

Get a second opinion is my advice.

Absolutely this. A few years ago I was getting a dental implant, had seen my nhs dentist who xrayed my teeth, no issues. 10 days later went to my implant appointment and they said I needed 3 fillings. Total bullshit

I remember reading a newspaper article a few years ago (something trashy like the standard) where the journalist went to 20 different dentists in London for consultations and asked them what work needed doing. His quotes ranged from £50 for a scale and polish to nearly 2K for extensive work!

So I agree about getting a second opinion.

He did a lovely job of the scale and polish, I’ll give him that.

Get a second opinion. I was once told by a new dentist that I needed 6 fillings. Got a second opinion and had 1. This was 15 years ago and haven't needed any work since (and seen 3 dentists in meantime)

It does seem odd.
I had a dentist a few years ago and every time I seen him I needed something doing, moved house and changed dentist and I haven't needed anything since, I definitely think he was just doing it for the extra money.

Same happened here. I've good teeth, only a couple of fillings, always had regular checkups. Had one just before we moved from the UK to Ireland.

Six months later I'd found a new dentist and went for a checkup to be met with 'you need four fillings and the two you've already got need replacing'

My response was to remark how odd it was that my teeth had deteriorated so much in six months - and to seek a second opinion.

The next dentist agreed with my UK one, no treatment necessary. I still go to him, he's very good. Twenty years on, I still haven't had those six fillings.

I would get a second opinion