It is hard to know with dentistry; that's why I don't go to cheap dentists (and only do cheap haircuts because I know it will grow back).

If you had not been to the dentist in 30 years, do not know your own mouth/teeth very well, medically, as a result, I don't know that you can show/prove much of anything; it's very very unlikely that only one tooth would have problems in that many years. I don't know what problems you are discussing either; if you are going to a surgeon, that's not just run-of-the-mill dentistry to fix a cavity or something, that's probably related to your gums and bones/jaw and they don't have single problems; if you have problems with your mouth structure; individual teeth can seem great but will fall out or need root canals all the same.