Well, I got that second opinion that several people on here
recommended...

I just got back from seeing Dr. X.  He's a dentist that several of my
neighbors use, and they really like him.  So I figured I'd give him a
try.  He seems like a nice, quiet, soft-spoken guy.

Regarding that tooth (#30) that's bothering me, he said that I should
see an endodontist and have the tooth tested so we can figure out if a
root canal is needed.  I am going to have the endodontist test the
corresponding molar (#19) on the left side while I am there.  And maybe
also a third tooth that has a suspicious radioleucency on the x-ray.
Since the tooth is asymptomatic, I think I'll let the endodontist look
at the x-rays and see if he thinks it really needs testing.

I also asked him a few questions while I was in there having that
problem tooth checked out.  He doesn't think fixing my overbite will
necessarily reduce the trauma to my teeth.  He said that he has seen
cases where teeth grinding got worse after orthodontics. He also
doesn't agree that all of my amalgam fillings should be immediately
replaced.  And I specifically asked him about the back molar on the
lower right side that doesn't even have a filling in it.  That's one of
the teeth that my other dentist wants to put a full crown on.  Dr. X
said that he could see why someone might recommend a crown-- there are
some wear facets where the tooth has been worn down to dentin, and some
other issues.  But it's not something he would have recommended.  He
even said, "I wouldn't want it in my mouth."

Dr. X said that one can certainly fix things to "a level of
perfection," but that's not the way he does things.  I have a good
feeling about this new (to me) dentist.  Compared to the other dentist,
his approach is much closer to what one might call "minimally-invasive
dentistry."

Harry