Yes, this is exactly the case. The reason for this is that fillings can't be made super-small, and you always need to grind some healthy tooth tissue for the fi

Yes, this is exactly the case. The reason for this is that fillings can't be made super-small, and you always need to grind some healthy tooth tissue for the filling to bind. So, a dentist needs to decide if the decay has gone far enough to make it worth the loss of healthy tooth issue for the filling. Also, dentist treatment recommendations always include a part of expectations management. E.g. if your dentist believes that you wouldn't want to pay extra for a crown, it is more likely they will outright recommend an oversized filling instead. So, it is important to be explicit to your doctor that you want to be listed all the range of treatment options, so you can discuss their tradeoffs and choose what feels right for you.