Marc Pelletier, 33, has always prided himself on taking meticulous care of his teeth, so when he was told at a dental check-up he needed $1200 worth of fillings, he grew suspicious.

"I've always been the type to brush twice a day, floss every day and get regular cleanings and check-ups," Mr Pelletier, an engineer from Waterloo, said.

Marc Pelletier became suspicious when he was told he needed $1200 worth of dental work. Credit:Louie Douvis

"A year and a half ago I got four fillings on my molars, which I was devastated about, and I've never had any other issues, and all of a sudden I needed all this work? It didn't seem right."

He conducted a little experiment. He saw a second dentist without telling him about the earlier consultation and the resulting "wild" difference in opinion left him in shock.