1 /5 Madison Hamilton: I hope this helps others avoid the stress I went through:
I just moved to Austin and needed a new dentist, so I came here. My old dentist in California said last year that I had no cavities, just two teeth to keep an eye on. But at The Local, I was told my teeth were in really bad shape and that I had 9 cavities! When I asked how this could happen, the dentist asked if I drink sparkling water. I said yes, a few times a week, and he said that was likely the cause or maybe my diet (which is healthy and hasnt changed). He also said a bunch of alarming stuff about my bite and overall dental health, which left me feeling really upset and scared.
I go to the dentist regularly and had never heard any of this before, so I decided to get a second opinion. I made an appointment with another dentist in Austin and got another round of x-rays. The new dentist told me I have ZERO cavities. She said the two teeth my California dentist mentioned still need to be watched, but they arent cavities or anything serious. She said my teeth are actually in good shape.
There was no sales pitch—just straightforward, professional care. This experience made me realize the importance of finding a "doctor dentist" and not a "business dentist."
I was losing sleep over the diagnosis and potential costs and amount of work from The Local. Please don’t let them scare you into getting unnecessary work done. Get a second opinion if something sounds off or alarming!
