Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 202 posts

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#21

Post by bigethan »

darkerside wrote: post #12
Kluny wrote: post #9

I've often heard conspiracy theorists say that if dentists ever learned of a way to cure cavities more cheaply and without drilling, they'd suppress the information as it would endanger their business. I think this is insane, but can anyone offer a sound economic argument for why dentists would embrace the new technique instead of cartelling up to suppress it?

Because capitalism. Dentists are not a cabal but a loosely affiliated set of individuals. As soon as one local dentist start filling teeth pain-free with great long-lasting results, all the other dentists had better adapt or they will go out of business.

It'd be impossible for a dentist to go rogue if the main lobbying group for the dentists wasn't allowing any new treatments to get government approval.

Also, I'd argue that capitalism is what causes the entrenchment of industries that get addicted to their profits and don't care about the customers.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#22

Post by mankyd »

Kluny wrote: post #9

I've often heard conspiracy theorists say that if dentists ever learned of a way to cure cavities more cheaply and without drilling, they'd suppress the information as it would endanger their business. I think this is insane, but can anyone offer a sound economic argument for why dentists would embrace the new technique instead of cartelling up to suppress it?

Because this fixes a cavity; it doesn't prevent it. Even with treatments like this, we'll still be going to the dentist.

And further, I'll go to a dentist that offers this treatment before I'll go to one that doesn't.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#23

Post by lps41 »

jensen123 wrote: post #7

In 1939, the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration was published. In it Weston A. Price explains that you can avoid cavities by eating a good diet. I wonder if most people will ever become aware of this. Probably not - they don't read much, and certainly not non-mainstream stuff like that book. Edit: I would also recommend reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, since Weston A. Price did not get everything r…

I'm really confused by your comment - isn't it general knowledge that poor diet causes cavities? I remember being taught this in public school as early as kindergarten, and having my dentists reinforce it my entire life.

However, I do believe that genetics also plays a large role in predisposition to cavities, with or without a healthy diet.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#24

Post by avmich »

bigethan wrote: post #21
darkerside wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because capitalism. Dentists are not a cabal but a loosely affiliated set of individuals. As soon as one local dentist start filling teeth pain-free with great long-lasting results, all the other dentists had better adapt or they will go out of business.

It'd be impossible for a dentist to go rogue if the main lobbying group for the dentists wasn't allowing any new treatments to get government approval. Also, I'd argue that capitalism is what causes the entrenchment of industries that get addicted to their profits and don't care about the customers.

It'd be possible for public to mount enough pressure on government to allow for that.

Given a few assumptions, of course - enough information, attentive enough government, enough energy in the society etc.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#25

Post by Pyxl101 »

tjr wrote: post #11
Kluny wrote: post #9

I've often heard conspiracy theorists say that if dentists ever learned of a way to cure cavities more cheaply and without drilling, they'd suppress the information as it would endanger their business. I think this is insane, but can anyone offer a sound economic argument for why dentists would embrace the new technique instead of cartelling up to suppress it?

Why don't dentists recommend drinking more soda and eating more candy?

For the same reason a real estate agent does not try to sell you the first house they show you: their motives would be way too obviously transparent if they did that and people would see through it.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#27

Post by _-__--- »

lps41 wrote: post #23
jensen123 wrote: post #7

In 1939, the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration was published. In it Weston A. Price explains that you can avoid cavities by eating a good diet. I wonder if most people will ever become aware of this. Probably not - they don't read much, and certainly not non-mainstream stuff like that book. Edit: I would also recommend reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, since Weston A. Price did not get everything r…

I'm really confused by your comment - isn't it general knowledge that poor diet causes cavities? I remember being taught this in public school as early as kindergarten, and having my dentists reinforce it my entire life. However, I do believe that genetics also plays a large role in predisposition to cavities, with or without a healthy diet.

It's not the content of the book that this person is talking about, but rather their disdain for some constructed "people" for not reading. Not sure where the ire is coming from, but it's more of a "you're not wrong, you're just an asshole" comment.

But, here I am writing this and here you are reading it.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#28

Post by deegles »

lps41 wrote: post #23
jensen123 wrote: post #7

In 1939, the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration was published. In it Weston A. Price explains that you can avoid cavities by eating a good diet. I wonder if most people will ever become aware of this. Probably not - they don't read much, and certainly not non-mainstream stuff like that book. Edit: I would also recommend reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, since Weston A. Price did not get everything r…

I'm really confused by your comment - isn't it general knowledge that poor diet causes cavities? I remember being taught this in public school as early as kindergarten, and having my dentists reinforce it my entire life. However, I do believe that genetics also plays a large role in predisposition to cavities, with or without a healthy diet.

I believe that study shows that the correct diet will actually heal cavities, not just prevent them. I don't know if it has been shown to be true though.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#29

Post by stevetrewick »

darkerside wrote: post #12
Kluny wrote: post #9

I've often heard conspiracy theorists say that if dentists ever learned of a way to cure cavities more cheaply and without drilling, they'd suppress the information as it would endanger their business. I think this is insane, but can anyone offer a sound economic argument for why dentists would embrace the new technique instead of cartelling up to suppress it?

Because capitalism. Dentists are not a cabal but a loosely affiliated set of individuals. As soon as one local dentist start filling teeth pain-free with great long-lasting results, all the other dentists had better adapt or they will go out of business.

That's not capitalism, that's market economics. Often (arguably universally at this point in history, but watch this space) found together but not at all the same.

Your point stands, nevertheless.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#30

Post by fweespeech »

jensen123 wrote: post #7

In 1939, the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration was published. In it Weston A. Price explains that you can avoid cavities by eating a good diet. I wonder if most people will ever become aware of this. Probably not - they don't read much, and certainly not non-mainstream stuff like that book. Edit: I would also recommend reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, since Weston A. Price did not get everything r…

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/03/health/tooth-decay-causes/

> About 60% of the risk for tooth decay appears to be due to genetic factors, says Mary L. Marazita, director of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267319/

> Twin studies provide the opportunity to dissect the relative contribution of genetics and environment on dental caries variation. Accordingly, these studies can often suggest, but not prove, biological inheritance. Current evidence supports the notion that there is an inherited variation in enamel development that is associated with increased occurrence of dental caries. At present, these results are limited to specific populations with overt recognizable syndromes.

http://www.utimes.pitt.edu/?p=19115

> Personal habits, fluoride and genetic factors all play a role in the development of cavities. Age is a factor as well, said Vieira, who has devoted some of his research to uncovering which genes have an influence.

Post reply on HN