[burntalmonds]

Interesting. A similar thing happened to me. After a lifetime of zero cavities, the dentist I'd seen a few times for cleanings announces that my luck has run out -- I've got several cavities. I declined any work, but I was concerned. Shortly after that I ended up moving to a different state and it was about year before I got back in to a new dentist. I was dreading it since I figured he'd tell me I've got cavities. Nope -- said everything looks great, see you in 6 months!

[noduerme]

Worse happened to me. I had no cavities until the age of 36. Then I apparently got two. New dentist. I went for a second opinion and a second new dentist confirmed it, but who knows. I got the fillings. Within six weeks, one of the teeth broke in half around the filling and the guy was trying to give me an emergency root canal. I ended up having to have it pulled. The other one broke in half a few months later, another emergency surgery. That time, I went in and I'm pretty sure he worked on me drunk.

I haven't tried to sue the guy, but I think seriously about firebombing his office every time I drive by it.

[IvanaSays]

There must be options in between suing him and firebombing his office. Seriously, think about folks coming in after you. Try to at least file a complaint, or give a bad review some place.

[sedeki]

A few years ago, a friend of my cousin became a licensed dentist here in Sweden. My cousin had to remove a tooth and his friend gave him, I assume, a lower price because they're friends...

He removed a tooth alright, but the wrong one (on the wrong side). And apparently my cousin just assumed he worked on fixing something else, realising the mistake way too late.

I asked my cousin if he considered suing but he didn't want to do that because they're friends...

Weird situation.

[bombcar]

Reminds me of people getting "THIS LEG" tattooed on the leg to be removed, perhaps something similar with a stick on tooth decoration could be worth it.

[noduerme]

I used to live in Spain, and I remember being shocked when my doctor told me how common it was for people to have the wrong leg or kidney removed there. She was originally American, and implied there was a strong inverse correlation between the cap on malpractice damages and the number of incorrect organs/appendages detached. Honestly, although the American medical system is the pits, it gave me a better opinion of American tort law and made me believe that some of the seemingly superficial lawsuits in this country serve a better purpose of keeping the otherwise wild-west medical system in check.

[edit] just as a side note, I've noticed a strong trend here among people who also never "had a cavity" in another country until they were in the US

[bombcar]

There was some pretty significant pressure against having doctors use checklists (like pilots have) - but it has also decreased errors significantly (both in aviation and in the medical field).

They also act as a form of documentation; I highly recommend checklists whenever I can.

[duck]

It almost seems like tattooing "NOT THIS LEG" would be a safer move.