Posted on 10/17/2024 9:49:46 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A series of recently published opinions and letters present varying perspectives on the current state of US dental care all emphasize the need for evidence-based practices and changes in economic models.
The conversation kicked off when Paulo Nadanovsky, DDS, Ph.D. and colleagues presented "Too Much Dentistry," arguing that dental diseases and procedures are highly prevalent, costly, and often exceed spending on other major health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
They suggest that dental care in the U.S. is driven more by economic pressures and patient trust than clinical evidence, leading to excessive diagnoses and interventions.
Examples offered include the treatment of noncavitated caries lesions (white spots) and routine fillings in children, practices that lack substantial evidence of benefit in preventing pain or infection.
The collective viewpoints acknowledge themes of overdiagnosis, the influence of economics on dental practices, and the urgent need for basic evidence-based guidelines.
Another way of phrasing that is, yes, the current state of US dental practice is a somewhat of a scam with some really good outcomes. While perceptions of dentistry often come down to patient confidence and trust in the profession, I offer a few anecdotal tales from the ever-skeptical author of this article as examples.
I was once told that I had eight cavities and was handed a detailed schedule of the order in which the dentist would recommend addressing them. A visit to a new dentist for a (blinded) second opinion revealed that I had zero.
When my oldest daughter was three, a dentist took X-rays that revealed five cavities. When I looked at the X-rays, I couldn't see anything. I was told it was because I wasn't a dentist. The new dentist she visited later found none.
The implications of oversight for dental practices and health care policy are significant.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I was quoted $35,000 for upper implants. I went to Hungary and had the same work done by an oral surgeon and it cost less than $6,000. And I had a wonderful vacation.
Quality work can be found overseas for a fraction of the cost.
The big scam by many dentists is to replace all your old fillings.
Everything is slowly going out of control...and will likely only get worse.
Mission accomplished for those who hate America .
It appears that I have the minority view here. I deeply appreciate my dentist. I have spent quite a sum over the years on dental work and expect to spend even more the older I grow. However, that money has been well spent: good teeth are one of the keys to good health, and I have never once regretted paying a dental bill for all the value I received.
bkmk
Strange as it seems, evidence shows daily flossing and preventing gum disease can add seven years to your life. Gum disease and chronic inflammation is a key contributor to many health problems, especially atherosclerosis.
I made this part of a presentation I made to a management team 20 years ago. We made many changes in our benefits spend to have more focus on preventative care and wellness.
To add to your point, cavities can go septic and cause death. It’s something that’s seen in forensic archeology.
I had a root canal that failed and created an abcess that lead to multiple infections capped off by a heart attack.
Getting the right dentists can be a matter of life and death. I picked the dentists I see by looking at their credentials and level of expertise.
Picking a dentist is like picking any doctor, choose wisely.
A lot of medical posts complaining about service reflect the same thing: People do not have consistent relationships with their medical providers. If you have a family dentist you will develop a regular relationship and trust over the years. If you have a consistent PCP, they will come to know you and advocate for you as the years go by.
But if you never go to the doctor or dentist and just start picking names out of a hat, you will end up with lousy docs.
And damn….brush and floss and most of this becomes moot.
Please explain. I Googled and found both good and bad opinions. Thanks!
I and my wife have had the same wonderful dentist for decades—and he is starting to get some gray hair and looking a bit older.
(I look the same of course...not. lol)
Whenever he asks me how we are doing during retirement I say as little as possible—and my wife knows to do the same.
We do not want to encourage him to retire. (He could easily afford to do it—any day.)
Are they super soft with thin bristles? I used to order toothbrushes from Amazon that did such a good job that when I flossed right after they were totally clean. They’re not sold any more, and the company appears to no longer exist.
😁
Best way to fight gum disease is brushing with apple cider vinegar and baking soda. You will foam at the mouth, just do not swallow.
“Optometrists do the same thing. “
I was going to mention the whole optical scam. One guy will say “glaucoma — need treatment”. Another will say “no indication of glaucoma”. After my cataract surgeries in 2014, I was SO HAPPY! Everything was (seemed to be perfect). Then doc said there were bubbles or something so he had to tweak them with a laser. After that, one has never been right.
He’s the “top” surgeon in the area, but we are losing trust.
It has always been thus.
If a dentist can't find a cavity, they'll invent one.
“fluoride is under attack again for allegedly reducing the IQ of children.”
Someone I know was an expert witness in that case. I’ve always been suspicious of fluoride and try to avoid it if possible, but it really is everywhere.
I know it’s anecdotal, but my sister-in-law is very anti-fluoride. They have well water, she won’t buy toothpaste with fluoride, etc. She homeschools so they’re not getting anything at school. (One is an adult now.) Those boys are scary smart! Of course, maybe they’ll have bad teeth when they’re older. What’s the trade-off — low IQ for good teeth? I figure nobody really knows for sure.
“I had a root canal that failed and created an abcess that lead to multiple infections capped off by a heart attack.”
I was fearing a root canal due to heat sensitivity under a gold crown I’ve had for about 40 years. There are so many negative results after root canals. Heart attacks. Infections, which TERRIFY me since I have two hip replacements, and an infection in the bloodstream can impact artificial joints bigly.
My dentist mentioned a possible root canal and sent me to a specialist who did an extensive exam, found nothing, and told me to use Sensodyne toothpaste. He easily could’ve pushed for the procedure, but he didn’t. (I had a little more trust in him when I noticed conservative literature in his office, and they had Fox News on the TVs. I joked and told him that if it were CNN or MSNBC I might have to leave.)
The pain is still there, but improving I think.
That fraud of a dentist we had was our family dentist for several decades.
We got our teeth cleaned there, too.
Relationships with an animal does not make the animal tame.
Eye exams here were $150. I had one done in Prague for $8, got the prescription, and got the lens here. Contacts are OTC in Czech Republic and are in pharmacies, but I didn’t have time wait for my stronger order.
My plan would be to bring all of it under medical. Why are teeth and eyes/glasses seperate? Yeah, rhetorical. But.....
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