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Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

theguardian.com

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Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#51

Post by Jtsummers »

merpnderp wrote: post #45
wanderingstan wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to even go that far, in 2006 I had a root canal in Germany with no anesthesia or pain killers given. Made worse by the fact I didn't understand what it was being done. My German was terrible and the dentist's English was worse.

How was it possible to hold still while having a large nerve drilled out?

I can't speak to dental stuffs, but some local anesthetics don't work on me. I found it remarkably easy, though extraordinarily painful, to maintain stillness while having my foot stitched back together. The grip I had on the bedframe, however, I'm surprised I didn't break it or tear something apart in my arm.

I can't really say how I did it, because I'm not sure. I just knew I had to and didn't move.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#53

Post by mikeash »

merpnderp wrote: post #36
stevetrewick wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_economy First section.....Capitalism. Capitalism is certainly a type of market economy.

"In state capitalist systems, markets are relied upon the least, with the state relying heavily on either indirect economic planning and/or state-owned enterprises to accumulate capital."

Your own link doesn't support what you're saying.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#54

Post by raverbashing »

santaclaus wrote: post #48
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

I dislocated a limb, once, while playing some sports ball. The fix at the ER? A heavier doctor wrapped some ropes around me and leaned back with all of his weight, while the other doctor grabbed my limb and pulled really damn hard. Some medical treatments feel absolutely medieval...

Well, there's no modern way of solving what's essentially a misplacement of your limb

It's going to involve pulling and readjusting

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#55

Post by goldenkey »

mikeash wrote: post #52
theworstshill wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

money.

Well, obviously. But how does it make them money? I can't imagine the market for prescription toothpaste is very large.

I would imagine that the margin on a 150 dollar toothpaste is quite a bit more than a 6 dollar toothpaste. It's possible that the margin makes up for the smaller number of sales.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#56

Post by sevensor »

vdnkh wrote: post #44
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

It is all low tech. I've been undergoing significant dental work over the past year and I always come back to this same thought. The reason the "brutal" techniques works is because of the amazing resiliency of the mouth. Wounds heal quickly, and teeth are rooted so deep they take a ton of punishment before giving out. I've been lucky to find an orthodontist whose not afraid to do something advanced. Previously, I had…

I had the same diagnosis 20 years ago. And I had the old-fashioned treatment for it: oral surgery to expose the tooth, metal braces, canine winched into place by means of weekly tightenings over several months. Glad to hear things are beginning to improve.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#58

Post by to3m »

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?

I wonder if quick checkups are any less profitable per unit time than doing fillings. Not much in the way of materials required, and you can get a good throughput, with each visit likely to be of predictable duration.

(My teeth are in good shape, and my average dentist visit takes all of 15 minutes: check teeth for basic soundness, scrape off tartar, remove tea stains from upper incisors. Still costs me £55.)

There is also orthodontic work.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#59

Post by Bluestrike2 »

mikeash wrote: post #50
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

At least dental techniques work , even if they might not be very sophisticated or pleasant. Lobotomies just destroyed people. They were only successful in that they made the victims more compliant and less of a hassle for their caretakers, they didn't actually fix the problems.

When you get a chance, take a look at a photo of an orbitoclast (think ice pick). Hammer it in behind the eye socket, give it a good whack, and swing it around a bit. Walter Freeman, the asshole who invented the device, used to drive around the country in his little van performing lobotomies for $25 a pop. He had a nasty tendency to kill his patients; he even killed one when he stopped to have his photo taken with the pick in the patient's brain and accidentally rammed it in a bit too far. These things, of course, happen when you can't see what you're doing.

http://projects.wsj.com/lobotomyfiles/?ch=two

https://40.media.tumblr.com/995323300444f99ee37ffffaa834cfb1...

http://www.sculptorshop.com/oddities/lobotomy-walter-freeman...

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#60

Post by cguess »

atom-morgan wrote: post #35
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

People still get their wisdom teeth taken out without being put under. I heard one person describe the process inside your mouth sounding like a tree trunk being snapped in half.

I had mine removed and opted out of being put under. I get pretty nauseous coming out of general anesthesia.

Local anesthesia and very loud Flogging Molly did the trick for me (and a lot of patience, it took awhile). Didn't really feel anything.

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