If cavities have formed under your or inside your fillings, then they were not properly done or maintained. I would have to agree with the reviews and start shopping around for a new dentist.

Laoidheach's right. You should consider looking towards another dental service office. May sound silly, but try doing a quick google search of "dental services San Jose" to see if you can find something with a good review in the area.

A good filling should last a lifetime... If it crept down from the surface, they probably didn't seal it good enough. If it started entirely under the filling, they probably didn't drill it out enough.

If there are other dentists nearby, it would probably be a good idea to look into them. Try to find out what customers are saying about them.

I'm not saying Western Dental is good or bad. But 10 years for a filling isn't a bad run. Yes, some people have fillings that last several decades. Depends on the properties of your teeth, where the filling is, what kind of material was used, how good a job the dentist did (a.k.a. did he remove enough questionable tooth material), and your dental hygiene habits.

Fillings often do turn into root canals if they continue to progress. At least a crown should last you longer than a filling... If they're a pro facility they'll be able to mill a ceramic crown for you on the spot, while you wait, from a solid block of ceramic using a Cerec automated milling station or similar.

From my experience, dentists are good about their work, but they want to press things on you: like mouthpieces/drillingandfilling and such.

I would not put it past a shady dentist (that's a rare case) who wants more business because you have a cavity under a filling: I don't know the situation and I don't know your teeth or how you take care of them (i treat my teeth like a negligent child, but I still get them checked out at least once a year.)

I would recommend a second opinion, however, there might be something that you do that causes stress/cavities/toothpain etc...

Furthermore, public reviews are garbage: they will give you a rough idea of how people think and receive treatment but they are not a reliable source.

Based on what you say: I would seek another dentist to check your teeth out. Couldn't hurt, and if you have medical, its around ~20 bucks co-pay: ask him what is bothering you and your teeth and if you have a shitty-filling: I bet he would see it as a challenge.

~PONI

Western Dental is absolutely terrible. Run THE OTHER WAY.
I went to two different ones and they both did horrible work on my mouth. My fillings look and feel like shit.
When I had my wisdom teeth remove, the surgeon gave me 4 shots of Novocain all at once, which apparently you aren't supposed to do because it's bad for your heart. And during the extraction I could absolutely feel one of my teeth being ripped from my skull. I tried to tell them that it hurt and I needed more Novocain but they told me I was just feeling pressure.
How do they know what IM feeling in MY mouth?? And then they almost let me leave with blood all over my face. I got to the door of the lobby before some lady stopped me to clean my face :|

TL;DR: If you can, please look for a different dentist. Your mouth will thank you.

AT LEAST YOUR WISDOM TEETH AREN'T COMING IN SIDEWAYS

had that one happen to me too

they are

WELL THAT'S A DAYUM SHAME

Mine are, or two of them for sure.. Then a molar fell out and the wisdom tooth righted itself and took its place :D

Do the best you can for your teeth. I had a filling, and I thought it was okay, until my tooth chipped around it and it progressed into a root canal years later. Sometimes, it just happens. :( I wound up losing the tooth!

cavities forming in fillings mean the dentist failed to remove all of the original cavity and it regrew, most likey another dentist will give you a root canal or remove said tooth(anesthesia is da bomb) opt for anesthesia of your getting multiple root canals done, youll sleep like a brick, feel nothing and get happy pills for pain

i hate the dentist >:

I still go to one in Fairfield :/

I also have problems with bad teeth, lots of cavities, old fillings causing problems and several root canals/teeth that has to be pulled out.

I've changed to a different dentist after a long time of not seeing one at all because I lost confidence in them all. the future for me is uncertain as well.

I feel your pain.

Get a second opinion from another dentist. Poor / unnecessary dental work can be very damaging. Depending on what the other dentist says, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to seek legal counsel.

let me tell ya, I know tooth problems. I seriously feel for ya and hope it works out

WD dental work cost me a total of 3 teeth, one was a root canal gone wrong so had to be "extracted" the other 2 where ground down to support a bridge that they said was the perminant one but was a temp, didn't fit right for almost 6 months then fell out due to the back supporting tooth now resembling a crater on the moon.

i'm going though the same thing at the moment

A filling /can/ last a lifetime, but that requires that proper care is taken in your mouth. If you have a lot of cavities, it shouldn't be surprising that previous fillings did not do the job; decay can still occur, and since the substance used to fill your tooth does not decay like teeth do, the bacteria in your mouth can wear down the tooth around it, creating a crevice where they can create more stuff to break down teeth, creating a rather bad spiral.

It shouldn't be surprising that previous fillings have failed if you have generally poor dental health. I had the same worries myself when something similar happened. It'll also depend on where exactly the cavity is located; in my case, it was on top of a molar, which meant a lot of wearing down and grinding would occur, increasing the likelihood of further infection.

Don't hold too much of a grudge with Western Dental. I'd say talk it over with their nurses or doctors; ask questions you feel you have, and express concerns honestly. Don't get confrontational, just explain that you're worried about the future health of your teeth, and whether or not this is a good decision. If they deflect questions or try to answer them in a roundabout way, then you can certainly blame them and go someplace else, but if they give you straight-up answers and tell you how they hope to keep things fixed, then you should stick with them. Dentists remember teeth, and things like sensitive spots and how to avoid them in individual patients' mouths; you don't wanna have to go through all that all over again, do ya? D:

Also do not worry about root canals. I had to have one done this year; it was an almost-entirely painless process, with the only pain being a mild amount of "electric" sensation near the end, after they'd cleared out the bulk of it. They simply dropped some novocaine onto the nerve and it went out like a light. They're very careful, and I've found endodontists to be very friendly, even compared to my dentist.

>_> youd be better off going to a dental college. They're cheaper, quicker and since they're graded on it get a better job done.

Cavities in previously-filled teeth are not uncommon. Especially if they are not brushed and flossed regularly.

But it wouldn't hurt to shop around; there have to be other dentists in your town.

I won't go any further, otherwise I might start my rant on why we should have free medical and dental care in this country...

Hey taski. I live in San jose.

If I were you I'd check out that Pannu Dental Group place right there on Berryessa.

My experience with the docs here in San Jose are shieeeet.

that or if you give me a day or two I can find the name of the dentist I used to go to. forgot the name but they're in cambel. THey're extremely good and very easy on the insurance.

well, not sure who you're insured by. but yea.

Dont do any western dental, they're all bad news. they're not entirely bad because they're never wrong, they just dont give a shit about you in general.
(they dont "believe" in anesthesia while removing wisdom teeth)

>cavaties

AND LAY OFF THE SODA.

Well, I'd say go to Cardston Alberta to get it done, both dentists are very good... But I think you're waaaay too far away for it to be worth it.