Further evidence that the privatization of healthcare is incentivized to produce worse outcomes and waste.
this post was submitted on 07 May 2024
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This article of a dentist testing other dentists gives some more anecdotal evidence: https://www.rd.com/article/how-honest-are-dentists/
Great article, and shocking to see the prices mentioned and this at the end: This article originally ran in the February 1997 issue of Reader’s Digest.
But then it also says after that Originally Published: November 18, 2020 Who knows?
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Time before last I had a dental checkup, they said I needed 12 fillings. Didn't schedule the fillings.
Last time I went in for a dental checkup, they said I needed 5 fillings. Didn't schedule the fillings.
It's been 15 years since that, and none of my teeth have gone rotten. None of them have gotten painful.
Sounds like you need a better dentist.
There are caring legit dentists out there. I know, hard to believe.
I dont deny it.
Shame on me for just existing with okay teeth.
No reason to have shame. All I’m saying is if you think your dentist is fucking around you should get a better dentist instead of avoiding them your entire life.
There are clear benefits to getting regular checkups. You are blessed that you don’t have any problems. But that can change quickly with age.
You only get one set of teeth and you don’t know what you don’t know.
All it takes is a simple infection to fuck your shit up. Bite wing X-rays allows you to get ahead of issues like that instead of waiting until it’s an issue because by then it’s too late.
You only get one set of teeth
This is demonstrably false.
Edit: I think some people missed my joke. We all (almost all) have a set of teeth that fall out and another set comes in, so it's just funny that they used the phrase "you only get one...." like we use for eyes, or brain, when we, in fact, end up having the whole set replaced once in our lives.
One free, permanent set
They've encouraged new teeth to form in small animals through inhibiting some gene expression. It's new, but it's an exciting niche. Humans are next.
Shark teeth for humans when?
Baby oh baby
I feel like there's a lot of dentists in here mad that a study scientifically showed dental care is drastically over prescribed...
You post an ancedot about how you were over prescribed treatment which aligns with the scientific study's findings...
And someone immediately tries to tell you it was bad luck you had it happen
And not the norm across various countries like the scientific study found.
Some dentists can be very proactive. Mine ID'd 2 small cavities but said if I focus on those areas they will probably not grow and be fine.
My wife's childhood dentist gave her more than a dozen fillings for small cavities. If you ever get a dentist like that, I'd suggest to get a second opinion.
Don't fuck around with your mouth health: dentures are not fun and infections there can be lethal. But another check-up won't hurt if you think something's off.
If you have mercenary healthcare, they're gonna want their money.
This is one of those cases where I invoke my policy of "don't let the person charging you money for something tell you how often you need to do it." It's like companies selling mattresses saying you should replace them every 6-8 years.
Takes 6 months to even get an appointment!
I think the 6mo cleanings are the prepare for people who don't take good care of their teeth. My plan allows for 3/4 cleanings a year if I want them. And some people are a lot more prone.
are the prepare
What?
for people who don’t take good care of their teeth
Genetically, some people have weaker enamel. Economically, your childhood dental care will greatly affect your adulthood needs.
I KNEW IT
Man, just know my dental plan would take a study like this to move to once a year cleanings :(
I like getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist
It's like waterboarding to me!
I also remember reading some research which said that time spent flossing is better spent brushing.
Can’t help but wonder if the fillings I got as a kid which need to be replaced every few years were avoidable.
Can confirm some bias with a trust me bro here for sure.
Rotting food is what causes most issues with teeth is my understanding for a healthy person.
Depending on how your teeth are spaces, brushing will do fuck all to dislodge the rot. Flossing is the only way to do it for me. Water floss is decent when I am lazy but nothing beats that's string friction.
I floss more regularly than brush
Here (Swiss) it's every year.
it’s all year
What exactly happens continually throughout the year for you?
Spelling errors.
No, it was spelled right. Just a grammatical error.
Exams are beneficial, they can catch issues early.
The unnecessary cleanings are the bad part, teeth aren't supposed to be bright white, to get them that way we're often stripping off a protective coating.
Like, if you're 60+ years old who cares. But doing it for decades adds up and may end up cancelling out benefits from exams.
What looks best just isn't always the best for long term health.
teeth aren't supposed to be bright white
Dental cleanings don’t make your teeth bright white. Removing tarter doesn’t make your teeth white.
All a dental cleaning should ever be is tarter removal. If your dentist is whitening your teeth then you need to get a proper dentist.
But doing it for decades adds up and may end up cancelling out benefits from exams.
You don’t have the first clue as to what you’re talking about and you’re giving people terrible advice.
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I don't get whitening done at my cleaning. Is getting whitening done common?
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