This is absolutely, absolutely great advice. A couple decades ago I went to a "dental spa", and they definitely over treated. They did this thing where they shined a laser at my teeth and said I had "pre-cavities", so I needed treatment (I think it was some sort of sealant).
I went to another dentist who basically said this was all bullshit. He said the whole concept of "pre-cavities" wasn't really a useful diagnostic category for treatment in the first place. That is, I went to the dentist every six months, and if they saw, for example, any thinning of the enamel, they would just watch it (because proper care can often prevent it from getting worse), and if it did develop into a cavity, they would fill it. But there was absolutely no need to pre-treat if a cavity wasn't there, and since I saw the dentist every six months they would catch anything before it became severe.
I'm so happy I've found a conservative but highly competent dentist. But it took a lot of looking. Dentists can essentially "create their own demand" if they need to, so I think one of the biggest risks in finding a dentist is that so many of them have a strong incentive to overtreat.
When I first came to Ithaca I went to the dentist who came first in the phone book and found he wanted to do too much of everything including take pano X rays even though I had no problems.
It was bad enough I didn't go to a dentist for another two years and when I did I got a recommendation from the department secretary. I'm still seeing that dentist although I don't actually see the dentist (as opposed to the hygienist) unless I've actually got a problem.
I went to another dentist who basically said this was all bullshit. He said the whole concept of "pre-cavities" wasn't really a useful diagnostic category for treatment in the first place. That is, I went to the dentist every six months, and if they saw, for example, any thinning of the enamel, they would just watch it (because proper care can often prevent it from getting worse), and if it did develop into a cavity, they would fill it. But there was absolutely no need to pre-treat if a cavity wasn't there, and since I saw the dentist every six months they would catch anything before it became severe.
I'm so happy I've found a conservative but highly competent dentist. But it took a lot of looking. Dentists can essentially "create their own demand" if they need to, so I think one of the biggest risks in finding a dentist is that so many of them have a strong incentive to overtreat.