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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)

#171

Post by eropple »

jzawodn wrote: post #138
ballenf wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sugary foods advice is true if you're talking about refined sugars, but I recall a study showing that raisins, e.g., are much better than refined flour in terms of damage to teeth. Despite having much higher sugar content. Here's an article about the study: https://nutritionfacts.org/blog/raisins-and-dental-health/

You know what flour turns into very, very quickly in you digestive system? Sugar.

The comment was about teeth, though, and flour/meal is abrasive, though. Not to the degree it was in prehistoric times--dental health went to hell during the transition to sedentarism, thought mostly to be due to milling introducing rocks etc. to the meal--but, setting aside that both are nutritionally probably not great, it stands to reason that the stuff mentioned in that blog post (mostly grain-derived) have more ways to stick to the surface of teeth and hang around to mess up mouth pH.

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

#172

Post by basisword »

kypro wrote: post #113
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…

The same is true for healthcare generally in my experience. Very bad advice is often given. I can't really common about the US, but here in the UK the quality of healthcare is shocking bad. Although we may have the opposite problem, where instead of doing unnecessary procedures to increase costs, the NHS generally tries to avoid doing anything unless you're dying. I had some pain in my abdomen a few years back and ha…

>> It doesn't really matter if you see the best doctor in the world, if they can't spent the time and money running the tests you need you're not going to get a good diagnosis.

Everyone in the UK should get to experience a private consultation just once. The difference between the rushed 10mins you get with the NHS and the considered 30mins you get private is amazing. You leave feeling like you’ve been taken care of and all your questions have been answered. It’s only when you see this you can see just how bad the quality of care in the NHS is at the moment. We need to stop equating the NHS with the people that work for it and start calling it out for how god awful it is. We’ve made it a dirty that can’t be criticised properly when it sorely needs to be.

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

#173

Post by hinkley »

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…

Are you me? Was this dentist in Fremont, WA?

I finally found a good dentist, but it was after I chipped one during the pandemic. It was never was done right in the first place, or the second place when I had it fixed. Lost that tooth unfortunately.

But after ten years with no dentistry, I had only one other cavity, and of course some light gingivitis. They did not have an idea I hadn’t been for over ten years.

I had great insurance at the time, and I was so shocked that I didn’t get a second opinion. After many years of retrospect, I have deep fissures which I got sealed years ago, and I suspect this hack saw shadows and assumed cavity instead of looking, because almost of the cavities she found were in the molars.

If the news is awful always get several opinions. One person may know better ways to handle it.

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

#174

Post by varjag »

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…

D students have to work somewhere too.

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

#175

Post by wccrawford »

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…

I felt the same way as you do, and didn't go in until I knew there was a problem... Turns out I had quite a few hidden cavities, and at least a couple were severe enough to be worried about. I found myself wishing I'd gone in at least once in a while for a checkup, even if I didn't actually get a cleaning. I'm sure I would have gotten occasional or regular cleanings as well, though, and I'd probably be better off for it.

In short, I'd do it differently if I were doing it again. But I certainly would never take it to the level that most people do.

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

#176

Post by pb7 »

stevehawk wrote: post #120
lost_tourist wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

well.. "twice a year".. but your insurance policy probably says 1 every 181 days.. just to rob you of the actual twice a year.. #america

There are 365.25 days in a year so insurance policy is quite generous in fact.

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

#177

Post by strokirk »

lost_tourist wrote: post #92
microtonal wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Wow. In Sweden, ”frequent” would be every second year.

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

#178

Post by dawnerd »

the-alchemist wrote: post #163

I know HN will have the answers if no one else will: Anyone have links to good studies (or even RCTs) about flossing, different kinds of toothpaste, etc.? I don't wanna open up the whole fluoride debate, but it seems _stannous_ fluoride is more effective than _sodium_ fluoride. The mouthwash I bought stained my teeth (can't find the link, but you had to dilute it with water. Something like [0]). I remember reading a…

I switched to importing novamin based toothpaste from Canada and it’s greatly improved my teeth. Used to be sensitive when chewing and it’s all gone now until I run out and have to use normal toothpaste.

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

#179

Post by hinkley »

2-718-281-828 wrote: post #119
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…

the dental elephant in the room is that our body can heal cavities to some extent. especially if you change your dental hygiene and diet. (also your dentist might have tried to scam you, of course)

There’s a process that is approved in Europe but not in the US last I looked. Involves UV light (or was it ozone?) and a bag over your tooth full of intense fluorine to first kill the cavity and then remineralize it. No drill.

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

#180

Post by phonon »

stevehawk wrote: post #120
lost_tourist wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

well.. "twice a year".. but your insurance policy probably says 1 every 181 days.. just to rob you of the actual twice a year.. #america

Ummm...a year is longer than 2 x 181 days...so what is being robbed exactly?
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