Dentist Issue: What would you do? (Long)

[OldShooter]

Today's dentist told me he had reviewed my X-rays in hopes of finding that I didn't really need two crowns, as a previous dentist had recommended. He said that on the surface, the teeth don't look that bad but the X-rays show cracking.

To be clear, I wasn't suggesting that all dentists are crooks pushing unnecessary work. I don't think that's the case at all.

But it is also the case that there is what the economists call a "moral hazard" or and "agency problem." It is possible that recommendations may be influenced by the dentist's financial incentives, even influenced unconsciously. For example, a decision to buy a crown-making machine may be to speed service to customers and give the dentist more control over the product. But that machine has to be paid for.