When a Dentist Tells You That You Don't Need the Treatment
Sometimes the right treatment plan is a smaller one. At GEN2 Dentistry in Davie, FL , patients regularly arrive holding a five-figure plan from somewhere else and leave with a fraction of it — because that's what the exam actually showed. Asking for a second opinion is a normal, reasonable thing to do, and it costs you an exam, not a procedure.
This post is about how that conversation goes, and how to tell when it's worth having.
Why would a dentist tell you not to do the treatment?
Because the exam says so.
Dr. Paul Garcia and Dr. María Escabí see the same patients year after year, which changes what a treatment plan is for.
"People come, literally, sometimes crying, upset… 'Oh my God, I didn't know I needed all this.' And you look in their mouth, it's like, well, you don't need all that." — Dr. Paul Garcia
That's not a rare appointment. It's a regular one.
What does over-treatment look like from the chair?
Dr. Garcia describes it with a story that has nothing to do with teeth.
He took his car in for an oil change. He came out having been pushed a cabin air filter, an engine air filter, and a coolant flush. None of which he needed.
"I was feeling pushed and pressured to get those things done when I know I didn't need those things."
He knew enough about cars to say no. Most patients don't know enough about teeth to say no. That asymmetry is the whole problem, and it's why the plan you're handed deserves a second read.
How do I know if I should get a second opinion?
Get one if any of these are true.
- The plan is large, and the reason for each item wasn't explained to you.
- You were asked to decide and pay the same day.
- Teeth you didn't know were a problem are on the list.
- Extraction is recommended for a tooth that doesn't hurt.
- You felt pressured rather than informed.
- The number surprised you and nobody walked you through it.
None of those mean the first dentist was wrong. They mean you don't have enough information yet, and that's a fixable problem.
The ADA's guidance on talking to your dentist is a useful starting point for what you're entitled to ask.
Can a tooth be saved instead of pulled?
Often, yes — and this is where second opinions most frequently change the plan.
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." — Dr. Paul Garcia
Dr. Escabí performs 85 to 90 percent of root canals in-house . A tooth that gets recommended for extraction in one office may be a root canal and a crown in another, because the capability to save it is right there.
"If we can save a tooth, we're going to save a tooth." — Dr. María Escabí
The American Association of Endodontists maintains a good explanation of when a tooth can be saved and what's involved.
There's a lighter-touch version of the same principle. Early decay that hasn't broken the enamel surface can sometimes be arrested with Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus , which remineralizes enamel in a five-to-ten-second application. No drill. No needle. Not every lesion qualifies — but the ones that do shouldn't be filled.
What actually happens at a second opinion visit?
You bring whatever you have: the treatment plan, X-rays if you can get copies, and the questions you left the other appointment with.
You get a full exam. New X-rays if the existing ones don't show enough. An Oral ID screening — an FDA-cleared fluorescent scan for oral cancer that the hygienist performs and the doctor repeats.
Then you get told what the doctor sees, tooth by tooth, including the teeth that are fine.
"I will tell you, you sit in my chair. I will tell you exactly what you need… But I'm not gonna give you a $20,000 treatment plan when you don't need it." — Dr. Paul Garcia
If you're anxious about all of it, say so. That's worth more than you'd think.
"A good 95% of the patients that say they are anxious, they are scared, they've had bad experiences — I can manage them just by talking to them… I sit down, I look them eye level. I'm not above them." — Dr. Paul Garcia
What if the second opinion agrees with the first?
Then you go do the treatment, with confidence — and that's a good outcome, not a wasted appointment.
A second opinion isn't a search for permission to skip dentistry. Plenty of large treatment plans are correct. The value is in knowing which kind you're holding.
What should you not wait on?
Being careful about over-treatment doesn't mean being slow about real problems.
"The mouth is very kind. It will heal. Any little cut, any little ulcer heals in a few days. But if it's something that is there for two weeks, three weeks — get a check." — Dr. Paul Garcia
That's the rule worth remembering. Anything in your mouth that hasn't resolved in two to three weeks gets looked at. A sore, a patch, a lump, a spot that won't go away. At GEN2, suspicious areas get a two-week recheck rather than a shrug.
And for teeth: a small cavity treated now is a filling. The same cavity ignored is a root canal and a crown.
"You only get two sets of teeth for free. The third one, you have to pay for it." — Dr. Paul Garcia
Why the practice is built this way
GEN2 is named for the second generation. The doctors' son joins the practice in 2027.
The logo is a guayacán tree — a protected species, roughly five hundred years old, the only tree left standing in a valley on Dr. Escabí's late father's farm in Puerto Rico. They named the practice for him.
That's the frame. Something meant to be here in fifty years is run differently than something meant to be sold.
"I don't want to have 50,000 patients. I want to have a good pool of patients that I can treat right." — Dr. Paul Garcia
Come get a second opinion
GEN2 Dentistry is at 7780 Griffin Road, Suite 107, Davie, FL 33328, serving Davie, Cooper City, Southwest Ranches, Plantation, and Weston. Both doctors are bilingual in English and Spanish; the team also speaks Creole.
Bring the plan. Bring the questions. You'll get a straight answer.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get a second opinion on a large dental treatment plan?
Yes, if the plan is large, wasn't explained tooth by tooth, or you were pressured to decide the same day. A second opinion costs an exam, not a procedure. GEN2 Dentistry in Davie, FL regularly reviews outside treatment plans and often recommends significantly less treatment than originally proposed.
How much does a dental second opinion cost in Davie, FL?
A second opinion is the cost of an exam and any X-rays needed, not the cost of treatment. GEN2 Dentistry in Davie is out of network with PPOs by choice but still submits claims on your behalf. Call the office for current exam fees and what your plan may cover.
What should I bring to a second opinion appointment?
Bring the written treatment plan, copies of recent X-rays if you can obtain them from the previous office, a list of any medications you take, and the questions you left the first appointment with. If X-rays are unavailable or unclear, new images will be taken at the visit.
Can a tooth recommended for extraction be saved?
Often, yes. Many teeth marked for extraction can be saved with a root canal and a crown. Dr. María Escabí performs 85 to 90 percent of root canals in-house at GEN2 Dentistry in Davie, FL, and the practice's stated approach is to save a natural tooth whenever it is realistically possible.
Can early cavities be treated without drilling?
Sometimes. Early decay that has not broken through the enamel surface may be treated with Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus, which remineralizes enamel in a five-to-ten-second application without drilling or anesthetic. It does not work on advanced decay or fractured teeth, so an exam determines whether a lesion qualifies.
How long should a sore in my mouth last before I get it checked?
Two to three weeks. Most cuts, ulcers, and irritations in the mouth heal within a few days. Anything that persists past two to three weeks should be examined. GEN2 Dentistry in Davie uses Oral ID, an FDA-cleared fluorescent screening, and rechecks suspicious areas after two weeks.
Do I have to switch dentists to get a second opinion?
No. A second opinion is an evaluation, not a commitment. Many patients get a second opinion at GEN2 Dentistry in Davie, FL and return to their original dentist for treatment, especially when both opinions agree. The point is understanding what you are being asked to approve.
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