This kind of seems to reduce to Google's inability, or unwillingness, to do anything about SEO.
Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
61–70 of 438 posts
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#62Why are dentists so scammy? In Norway I've seen documentaries about them sending the same people to multiple dentists, and some of them receive wildly different advice. Some of that can be ascribed to some being in the school of pro-active, so they want to fix your teeth at the first glance of issues. But in the end, most of the things being quoted were unnecessary. They all seemed very intent on removing wisdom teet…
I had a dentist appointment before COVID. They found a cavity and scheduled me to have a filling. Then, COVID hit and I cancelled the appointment.
I went back two years later for another checkup/cleaning. They didn't find any cavities.
Maybe it healed itself? Apparently that's possible via re-mineralization. Either way, if that was possible, then perhaps they shouldn't have been so eager to drill and fill?
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#63I love that at the end it turns out to be an advert for GlacierMD! Did M Night consult on this blog post?
Reading blog posts from founders ranting about exactly the problem that their startup is trying to solve is kind of par for the HN course, is it not?
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#64I have two “Cadillac” dental insurance plans. When I sit down in the chair I just inform them that I am not interested in any service that is not fully covered by my insurances, and if its partially covered, I want a pretty detailed breakdown of why I need it before I will agree to the service.
Usually this stops the service upselling.
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#65Reminds me of my old dental hygienist who would "threaten" me with a more invasive (and expensive) cleaning process every time I'd visit. Switched dentists, mentioned my "gums" and the concerns of my old dentist, and they were like "no, your gums are fine".
Also reminds my of my experience with my disease "specialist" and my GP. Specialist is concerned about my cholesterol, puts me on meds, schedules regular (now expensive) blood tests. I mention it to my GP and he's says "your cholesterol is fine, don't worry about it"
Who do I trust exactly?
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#66Why are dentists so scammy? In Norway I've seen documentaries about them sending the same people to multiple dentists, and some of them receive wildly different advice. Some of that can be ascribed to some being in the school of pro-active, so they want to fix your teeth at the first glance of issues. But in the end, most of the things being quoted were unnecessary. They all seemed very intent on removing wisdom teet…
I went to a new dentist for a broken filling and they tried to tell me I had 14 cavities and set me down with a finance person to set up a payment plan for how I was going to pay for them over the next 5 years. I went to a second dentist, they fixed the broken filling and said my teeth were otherwise fine. I have the paperwork to back this up. I’d been seeing another dentist for a while and he suddenly wanted to crow…
Its complicated.
Technically speaking, if there's any decay in your teeth, that's a cavity. The deeper it is, the faster it'll get worse. When you want to get that filling though, is a judgement call that a lot of dentists make for you sadly. Is it best to go ahead and get those fillings now? Probably, as far as your dental health is concerned. Can it be delayed though and done later? Almost certainly. Just a bigger filling later. Or maybe a crown if it gets too far gone.
Also, how fast your decay progresses depends on a variety of factors. For some people, it won't be long before those questionable cavities become serious problems. For others, it can be many years if they decay much further at all even. I think it's largely genetic, but also depends on oral care, diet habits, etc.
So, no, I don't think most dentists are just seeing dollar signs and putting fillings onto teeth without cavities. Its not outright fraud or malpractice. But some dentists are sympathetic to your financial situation while others think dental health should be a priority above everything, no matter the cost.
So it's a mix I think, between dentists' values/philosophies about dental care, and the lack of science about how fast tooth decay can vary from person to person (and an inability to measure that).
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Whether or not to drop $400 is not a "high-stakes medical decision". This just feels out-of-touch. $400 on a medical decision is a MASSIVE choice for many people -- it could be the difference between whether not they eat.
It could be a high stakes decision but perhaps not necessarily a high stakes medical decision?
The point is that by framing it as a medical decision they change the calculation, pushing it ahead of other important things the patient might spend on.
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#68No post body was provided.
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#69Why are dentists so scammy? In Norway I've seen documentaries about them sending the same people to multiple dentists, and some of them receive wildly different advice. Some of that can be ascribed to some being in the school of pro-active, so they want to fix your teeth at the first glance of issues. But in the end, most of the things being quoted were unnecessary. They all seemed very intent on removing wisdom teet…
At least in the US its because dental insurance isn't part of normal health insurance. Dental insurance mostly just covers the bare bones (teeth?) treatments like regular cleanings and an xray every couple of years. SO in order for the Dentist to make money they ahve to upsell every other treatment not covered by insurance. With regulars health insurance the doc is payed for pretty much any specific treatment they de…
Just because it's covered by insurance doesn't mean they don't get paid for the work.
Re: Google almost convinced me to spend $400 on useless laser treatments
#70Why are dentists so scammy? In Norway I've seen documentaries about them sending the same people to multiple dentists, and some of them receive wildly different advice. Some of that can be ascribed to some being in the school of pro-active, so they want to fix your teeth at the first glance of issues. But in the end, most of the things being quoted were unnecessary. They all seemed very intent on removing wisdom teet…
I went to a new dentist for a broken filling and they tried to tell me I had 14 cavities and set me down with a finance person to set up a payment plan for how I was going to pay for them over the next 5 years. I went to a second dentist, they fixed the broken filling and said my teeth were otherwise fine. I have the paperwork to back this up. I’d been seeing another dentist for a while and he suddenly wanted to crow…
The thing seems to be more interesting, here I talked to the university dentist, and it seems there a like 4 stages of cavity, and you only start treatment at stage 4. But it seems not 100% clearcut when stage 4 is reached.