It is of course possible that your dentist is substandard; however,
insurance companies should NEVER be depended on to determine the
appropriateness of treatment.  In fact, many policies will explicitly
say that their decision not to provide a benefit is NOT a judgement of
the appropriateness of care; it is only a judgement as to whether a
service is eligible for benefits according to the provisions of the
particular insurance contract.

Steve

I do not live in a rural area.  I cannot just go to another dentist for a
second opinion, I must change dentists through my insurance company.  Why
should I have to go through this?  The reason I am so skeptical is that
the insurance company I am with does not require the dentist to submit for
approval x-rays,a written description of the patient's dental issues, or
her/his treatment plan.  They require NOTHING.  The dentist just just gets
paid by them to have me as a patient and she/he can do whatever she/he
pleases.  As the consumer, I find this outrageous!  To no avail, I have
searched and searched (even with my local and the national dental association)
for a list of fees charged for dental services in my area;a range would
suffice.  Am I being robbed?  Feeling skeptical.

____________________________

Is that because you are in a rural area with only one dentist?

In most urban and suburban regions, there are many dentists who would
be able to render a second opinion.

- dentaldoc

Consulting another dentist is easier said than done.

Also, how does one know if the work the dentist said they performed was
really done?

    Consult another dentist.

Steve

How does one know if the treatment recommended by their dentist is really
necessary.  Also, how would one know whether the work they said they did was
really done?