You'll spend more time, money and effort after the fact trying to get a judgment unwound, depending on where you live, rather than just facing and fighting the claims up front from the outset. Many small claims courts will just grant the judgment requested to your dentist on the basis that the claims were uncontested if you fail to appear at the hearing.

I would show up with your documentation and see what happens.

And my disclaimer is that I am an attorney that has represented clients in small claims court several times, although having an attorney is almost never required for small claims like this in most jurisdictions.

GO COUGS.