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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)

#91

Post by avodonosov »

I believe for a long time already, that for any serious medical question it's better to hear at least 3 doctors.

Visited several dentists recently, all gave me different diagnosis and recommendations. My mother also visited four dentists recently, all gave her different recommendations.

When I say different, there is overlap between them. But also a significant difference.

That's not only dentists. I have several examples in my family when non-dentist doctors give directly opposite opinions.

Also a well known fact: surgeons always recommend to cut.

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

#92

Post by lost_tourist »

microtonal wrote: post #62
leoqa wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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)_/¯.

once or twice isn't "frequent" in the USA. I'd guess you're in another country? Most Dentists here say 2 times a year. I had one who suggested every 4 months and I refused. I go every 9 months now, to split the difference between 6 and 12

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

#94

Post by carabiner »

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've used the same dentist in Bellevue for 4 years and he's never had me do anything besides my 2x a year cleanings. Never tried to sell me anything but tells me to floss. He's not noticeably Christian.

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

#95

Post by umvi »

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…

It's not just the dental industry that's like this. A lot of medicine is subjective, and a lot of doctors have poor "debugging" skills and do the equivalent of print statements to try to diagnose an issue (guess and check).

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

#96

Post by sjackso »

kvmet wrote: post #81
kentonv wrote: post #53

A couple years ago my dentist sold her practice to a new dentist. Before I had an appointment with the new dentist, my wife had an appointment, and he told her she had gum disease with bone loss and needed a deep cleaning and to go on a "periodontal schedule" where she would have to come in every three months instead of six. (Note: My wife and I have different last names and separate insurance, so he wouldn't have kn…

Many dentists ago for me but they got a new contraption that could measure enamel thickness. They waved this wand around in my mouth and told me that I was in need of (4) fillings. Now I have always had thin enamel so it's not unusual to need some fillings but I didn't trust this process at all so I told them I'd mull it over and call back. Waited 6 months for next cleaning and mysteriously I didn't need any fillings…

Similar experience here. I went to a new dentist who had one of those machines and he told me I needed at least nine fillings. I declined and found someone else. Over 16 years and multiple moves/new dentists since then, maybe three of those teeth have actually needed fillings.

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

#97

Post by lost_tourist »

appplication wrote: post #68
shagie wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Yeah no way you don't go to the dentist for 20 years and not have a few millimeter thick worth of plaque on plaque. I brush and floss before I go to bed and go to the dentist every 9 months. I haven't had a cavity since I was 15 and my sweet tooth kind of faded out after that for some reason.

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

#98

Post by hunson_abadeer »

Waterluvian wrote: post #64
xyzelement wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think it's easy to come up with such delineation after the fact, but OP was looking for a more comforting answer. By the sound of it, they just didn't like the implications of the initial diagnosis. It wasn't about facts not adding up.

The reality is that modern medicine is absolutely amazing, but there are also many interventions backed by shoddy science or no science at all. Sometimes, "doing your own research" exposes such lapses. Sometimes, it sends you off the deep end and you end up chasing ghosts. To allow the former, you need to tolerate some of the latter.

And yeah, sometimes the shoddy science involves interventions so basic and so common that you'd think they're sorted out. Consider that Europe and the US take wildly divergent views on topics such as wisdom teeth, colonoscopies, or the value of flu vaccines.

"Science literacy" doesn't shield you from being wrong. Maybe it helps, but there's no shortage of Nobel laureates who believe in conspiracy theories or promote dubious medical treatments. Talking about "science literacy" is usually just how geeks convince themselves that their beliefs can't be wrong.

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

#99

Post by benjaminwootton »

umvi wrote: post #95
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…

It's not just the dental industry that's like this. A lot of medicine is subjective, and a lot of doctors have poor "debugging" skills and do the equivalent of print statements to try to diagnose an issue (guess and check).

I also found this with accountants. My tax affairs are semi-complicated, and every accountant I speak with has a totally different approach and advice. I think if I went to see ten, none of the advice would overlap.

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

#100

Post by gooseyman »

This article was run in 1997. It reads exactly like what a modern dental experience is.

If dentists want to start drilling, capping, or pulling. Go get a second opinion.

I was referred to the Otho within my dentists office to look at my wisdom teeth. I was not in pain, they weren’t impacted, instead I was told “It’s a standard practice just to check.” It was supposed to be a consultation, but the ortho wanted to rip them out right then and there. He was frustrated at my insistence that we understand the total cost after insurance. I was awake for the procedure, local anesthetic only.

My dentist at the next visit looked at my X-rays and asked why I got my wisdom teeth out. The ortho was no longer with them.

Good riddance

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