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I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

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Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#61

Post by xyzelement »

Waterluvian wrote: post #47

My son when 3 had a fall and a few teeth were bent. Went to our local dentist who mostly had a wait and see opinion. But then calls a day later and says they’ve decided they should just come out. Two top front teeth. Would have no top front teeth for years. I went into engineer mode and while I acknowledged I didn’t have domain expertise, I asked questions and probed the whole situation. Very unsatisfactory, meanderi…

Good for you figuring this out. I always point out to my wife that an expert with a financial benefit in the advice they are giving you is potentially more dangerous than an amateur.

If you are a dentist, "more dentistry" is likely to resonate with them as a solution, especially if that means they charge for doing the work. No different than if you ask a software developer if you should hire them to automate some process. A true pro may say "nah it's not worth it for you" but that's rare...

It's fashionable to dunk on folks who "do their own research" but I admire that more than those who are proud of unquestionably taking direction from vested parties.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#62

Post by microtonal »

leoqa wrote: post #43
CommieBobDole wrote: post #31

I've posted this before, but I went to a new dentist one time and though I'd never had a cavity, the new dentist said I had nine, some of which were pretty bad and needed immediate treatment lest they require a root canal. I didn't have any money or dental insurance at the time, so I didn't go back and just worried about it a lot for a while. That was twenty-five years ago. Haven't been to a dentist since. My teeth a…

I had a similar experience, got up sold on more frequent cleanings and they always found something to iterate on. I took their offer once to fill a “potential infection” and then recognized the pattern. They probably legitimately think the tooth may decay further - it probably won’t and you probably don’t need pre-emptive correction but they make more money and “fix” the problem for you so they may not see the ethica…

Frequent cleanings are nice though. As an avid tea drinker it's nice to have white teeth again once or twice a year. The insurance covers most of the cost, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#63

Post by superkuh »

verisimi wrote: post #21
rossdavidh wrote: post #12

At the very end of the article: "This article originally ran in the February 1997 issue of Reader’s Digest." Surely this should be noted in the HN title?

Dentistry has improved in leaps and bounds since 1997 - as the monetary incentive to over-prescribe treatments has now gone, right? /s

The current trend is for the remaining independent dentist (vets, pharmcies, etc) practices to be bought up by international private equity and enshittified.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#64

Post by Waterluvian »

xyzelement wrote: post #61
Waterluvian wrote: post #47

My son when 3 had a fall and a few teeth were bent. Went to our local dentist who mostly had a wait and see opinion. But then calls a day later and says they’ve decided they should just come out. Two top front teeth. Would have no top front teeth for years. I went into engineer mode and while I acknowledged I didn’t have domain expertise, I asked questions and probed the whole situation. Very unsatisfactory, meanderi…

Good for you figuring this out. I always point out to my wife that an expert with a financial benefit in the advice they are giving you is potentially more dangerous than an amateur. If you are a dentist, "more dentistry" is likely to resonate with them as a solution, especially if that means they charge for doing the work. No different than if you ask a software developer if you should hire them to automate some pro…

I think the “do your own research” label conflates two categories: people who are shopping for a comforting answer, and people who want to be informed and make conscious decisions. I don’t have to be a dental expert to know that something isn’t adding up and to seek a second opinion.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#65

Post by appplication »

mingus88 wrote: post #49
rossdavidh wrote: post #12

At the very end of the article: "This article originally ran in the February 1997 issue of Reader’s Digest." Surely this should be noted in the HN title?

I caught that too…after I had already shared this with my wife But it still feels relevant. I had a dentist that wanted to drill cavities out with every visit, regardless of how often I flossed and brushed Been to four dentists since and haven’t been told anything bad at all. There absolutely still exist dentists who are cashing in on us.

I used to be told I had cavities all the time when I was younger, despite religious brushing. Since moving elsewhere, no cavities ever. I did have one dentist who insisted on redoing almost all of these fillings (~8-10 over a few visits). I now rarely stick with the same dentist for long, oftentimes it’s clear they have some upsell. One recently tried to convince me I’m grinding my teeth At night. Having had multiple sleep studies done that have not noted this, and no other dentists corroborating this opinion, it’s clear it’s just a way to sell their fancy laser-fit mouth guards.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#67

Post by ttymck »

doubled112 wrote: post #36
unshavedyak wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've only had one done, and it wasn't a fun experience - it's something I see as a last resort to save a tooth, certainly not something I'd want to go through for cosmetic improvements. What was "unfun" about it? I'm familiar with what they are, but not the pain-points (in the non-literal sense lol) of getting them.

For me at least, I’ve had freezing fail many times. Once they begin, I believe you’re pretty much stuck there until the dentist is done, and that’s a lot of drilling. Not looking forward to ever needing anything like that.

What is freezing? Anesthetic?

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#68

Post by appplication »

shagie wrote: post #48
ustamills wrote: post #41

I know my comment is anecdotal but for me it's relevant. I'm 60 years old. Up until about 25 I just listened to dentists. They drill-and-fill and I went along. No longer. In 35 years I've had one problem. I broke a tooth biting on a hard seed in some Indian food. I got a crown for that. A few years later the crown came off. I haven't bothered getting it replaced. I don't have tooth pain. My teeth have not shifted. I…

Setting aside the drilling on shadows... There are studies that link gum disease to dementia. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/large-study-links-gum-disease-d... > The mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria, including those that can cause periodontal (gum) disease. A recent analysis led by NIA scientists suggests that bacteria that cause gum disease are also associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease…

I go for a cleaning at least twice a year even though I brush thoroughly. The dentist will always be able of clear out plaque you can’t. That said, there might not be much reason to listen to them beyond that.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#69

Post by EMM_386 »

I've been told I'd have to have my wisdom teeth extracted by every dentist I've seen. Over 10 of them as I've moved around. Oral surgeons saying the same thing.

The first one to recommend this was 35 years ago.

I still have them, and the last dentist I saw says they are in good shape. The first one ever to tell me this. I've never had an issue with them.

Go figure.

Re: I went to 50 different dentists: almost all gave a different diagnosis (1997)

#70

Post by kashunstva »

moshegramovsky wrote: post #57

I eventually found a great dentist. The first time I went to his office, it was extremely obvious that he was a Christian. Did that make me trust him more? Yes it sure did, but only because he was young. I would also trust an Orthodox Jewish dentist, but there aren't any here in Seattle that I can find. If I needed a lot of really expensive work, I would probably just go to a high end place in Mexico.

I don’t understand how the religious inclinations of the dentist have anything to do with their trustworthiness in terms of their diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
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