DrDad’s answer: If a new dentist suddenly tells you that you have many cavities, I would not immediately assume the old dentist missed everything—or that the new dentist is overtreating you. I would ask the new dentist to show you each one.
X-rays are useful, but not every cavity is equally obvious on an X-ray. Cavities on the chewing surface, for example, may need the clinical examination and sometimes a photograph to make the problem easier to understand.
What I Would Ask Your Dentist
Go tooth by tooth: Can you show me where this cavity is? Ask to see the X-ray when it shows the problem and a clinical or intraoral photo when that is more useful.
DrDad Tips
Don’t just accept “you have eight cavities” as a number. Go through them one at a time and ask to see why each tooth is on the treatment plan.
Educational information only. I cannot determine whether a specific tooth has decay from a written description.