Or your logic is flimsy. Equipment, as far as I can tell, is mostly bought once and then mortgaged over the lifetime of the practice, so they are presumably paying the same regardless. Newer dentists just have newer, and nicer, equipment. I go to a newer dentist and have never been recommended onlays. It's like any profession, some people are honest and some aren't.

My point was that you can plausibly talk yourself into anything by telling yourself some story around the limited number of data points you have. It doesn’t make your argument convincing or your advice good.

You make a good point! I wish it were easier to find dentists based on machine, for one that has done the research. Now this gets to dental website quality. Also makes me want to ask this community what, if anything, can be gathered about the quality of the dentist based on his website.