Root planing vs. fillings?

One dentists said I need a full mouth debridement and 4 root planings (four quads) at $215 each an these fillings on 8F , 2MO and 2 OM. Cost $1030





The other dentist said I need fillings of 3 ODLB, 4B. 5B, 8MF, 9MF, 19 MOB. and no debridement or root planings. Cost $1190.





So I'm confused. I have no dental insurance either. Which would be the better option???


In addition, after the exam, the second opinion dentist actually asked me if I had had my teeth cleaned recently which I hadnt! if that helps. These fillings are mostly along the gumline where I have brushed too hard receding the gums and allowing them to decay a bit I guess. One filling is a replacement for on going bad.

Root planing vs. fillings?
That is quite a difference. May I ask what made you get a second opinion? Since you have a second opinion, and they are completely different, I would get a third opinion. There is a big difference b/n what the first two dentists say you need. Out of it all I would be concerned about the possible gum disease. Get a third opinion, and then I think you will have a much better picture to make an informed decision. Good luck!!
Reply:The reason why the cost is so high is because they are facial fillings,here is a web address for free credit for dental. P.s. i'd advise you on NOT going with the root planings,this procedure is actually very painful so if the 2nd dentist said you need not to,i would go with that one,but ask if they have a discount for non-insured,cash/credit paying patients,most places do.
Reply:Stick with the 1st dentist. The second dentist seems to have found a lot more cavities that might be just replacing old fillings, and that may not be necessary in all cases.


#2 MO (Mesial Occlusal) means the same filling whether it is OM or MO, but most dentists write it MO.


#3 DOBL is a biggy! If dentist #1 didn't spot that, I would wonder why dentist #2 did and I would ask dentist #1 what he thinks of tooth #3 DOBL. It sounds like he might just want to replace it because it is old, but not sure.


#8 MF for dentist #2 and #8F for dentist #1- sounds like dentist #1 is trying to be more conservative with his restorations, which is a good thing.


Full Mouth Dibridement is getting all the tartar off, and is a great idea before starting on all these new-found fillings.


Debridement is more of a generalized term for"get-the-big-stuff-off"(tartar) and doesn't necessarily require numbing for this procedure.


Root planning and scaling is a deep cleaning- cleaning the roots of the teeth and getting ALL the tartar, even the small pieces off and usually requires a patient to be numb.


Dentist #1 sounds like he is thinking more of your long term care and your healing.
Reply:Fillings have nothing to do with root planing or debridement. They are totally different things.





Do you have bone loss? That would be an indication of a dentist suggesting root planing.





As for the fillings, each dentist has their own way of determining which surfaces a filling will cover. There is an imaginary line that separates the different surfaces on a tooth. One dentist may say that as long as a filling doesn't cross that line, it is a one surface, where another may say that if it even touches that line, it is a 2 surface. Every dentist diagnoses differently.

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