I'm not taking up for the dentist in this story, however one
possibility other than profits could be an issue.  Some professionals
(at whatever) believe themselves to almost be a god.  They can
brainwash themselves (and others) that they are actually 'the answer'
for 'problems' that only they can solve.

Fawks

2000, give or take a year or two.

I'm middle aged.

I've no idea. I would not discuss it with him.

Make the Dentist slightly wealthier.

Thanks for describing your experience.  Would you be able to elaborate
just a bit?  I'm wondering about:

1)  When did this take place?

2)  What was your age?

3)  What do you think he was going to prescribe as the treatment?

4)  What was the treatment supposed to do (stop the noise?)?

Again, thanks for getting involved in the thread.

Best wishes,
Webby

[snip]

One of the best dentists I ever saw (defining "best" as the ability to
save a tooth and not cause me pain while doing so) shocked me by trying to
sell me treatment for TMJ. My jaw does occasionally make a popping sound
when I open it wide, for instance when undergoing dental treatment. But I
have zero other symptoms of TMJ. No pain, no headaches. No nothing. He
just went on and on about how he was going to "help" me.

On a follow up visit, a loud female who was outside of my field of view
just gushed about how much better her life was after treatment for TMJ
from the good doctor. Minutes later, when it was my turn to be seen, he
brought it up again. I finally just told him a bald faced lie that
I never ever hear any popping sounds when I open my mouth - even though
I'm sure he had heard them himself.

It is amazing what doctors sometimes do when they lose sight of
helping their patients first, and instead put the profits first.

This book by A. Richard Goldman, DDS can be read online:

"TMJ  Syndrome: The Overlooked Diagnosis" Congdon and Weed 1987, Simon
and  Schuster 1989, Concorde Press 1997

http://www.headandneck.com/book/

http://www.headandneck.com/book/TOC.htm  (Table of Contents)

I have a copy of it in storage somewhere... probably the 1987 edition.  
Browsing the TOC and some pages from various chapters, it seems far out
of date.  As a piece of history, it supports the need for everything I
have done in my effort to describe how a TMJ iatroepidemic happened and
can still be happening ...

Here's hoping that readers will take a quick look, or a long one, to see
why I have decided to bring it to the "table".

Webby