Hi-I have several questions that I will try to post in several threads.
I am very concerned about the difference in opinions I get from
different dentists.
First, i want to know f I should have a tooth that is alive, crowned or
not. THis tooth has a big filling, that has lasted for a long time, but
one of the dentist i went replaced to the white filling. He wanted to
do a crown claiming that the tooth will not support the filling...It
always felt good to me. I don't want to have a crown.
The filling is big, just becasue of that should I crown it?

I am also concerned about my ability to recognize if I have a cavity or
not. I haven't been blessed with good genetics for my teeth, so I am
quite careful with my visits and cleanings, and i do a good
job...However a second dentist I went (today) found two tiny
cavities...he showed me the x-ray, and point to some small
shadows...other dentist I saw before didn't see that. Now, i had them
done...but i would be suspicious if he finds more...How do I protect
myself from having unncecesary drilling and filling? What do I look for
in an x-rey when someone points at a shadow as a cavity?

Becasue my dentist I trust is not in my insurance network and he is
very expensive, i am forced to shop around for dentists...and i feel
very umprotected...