My parents always told me to say no to dental x-rays and I thought they were being paranoid. I guess they were right to be skeptical.
Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
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Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#282Current final year dental student pitching in here. While dentists of the past may push for unnecessary annual radiographs, the curriculum in dental school has changed to favour evidence-based dentistry. Annual bitewings are only indicated if you're a high caries risk, and, as the article mentions, 2-3 years if you're low caries risk. So your younger/newer dentist will be following much better protocols (and hopefull…
Dentists always tell me insurance requires annual xrays in order to cover anything else, even just a cleaning. So it seems like it’s really not up to them.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#283Current final year dental student pitching in here. While dentists of the past may push for unnecessary annual radiographs, the curriculum in dental school has changed to favour evidence-based dentistry. Annual bitewings are only indicated if you're a high caries risk, and, as the article mentions, 2-3 years if you're low caries risk. So your younger/newer dentist will be following much better protocols (and hopefull…
I started going to a new dental office a few years back with a bunch of younger staff here in Brooklyn. They clearly spent a ton of money on the build out, and all the dentists were probably 30s/40s. They did the typical "you skipped your x-rays last checkup, you're now 1.5 years behind. You need to do those now" thing. When I asked how much it'd cost out of pocket, they told me an update was $80. I thought "oh wow,…
Any chance this new dental office was in Williamsburg, because I'm pretty sure I know the spot...
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#284I am all for evidence-based medicine making its way into dentristry if it's lacking... but if you're someone who is worried about cumulative exposure to X-ray length radiation, what is the dosage? And can we compare it relative to to say, millimeter scanners at the airport or a domestic flight? I was under the impression that the digital machines they use these days are: 1. localised 2. very, very low dose
As an important distinction the current millimeter scanners at the airport are completely uncomparable. They use non-ionizing radiation similar to Wi-Fi. There used to be backscatter x-ray scanners (ionizing radiation) but these were decommissioned in the EU/US in 2012/2013 due to public concern even though the levels were low as well.
The importance of the distinction is a lifetime of non-ionizing radiation is not known to cause any adverse effects while any instance of ionizing radiation is known to damage cells, even when it's a low amount in a controlled area. The debate people have with the former is whether or not it might even causes a problem in the first place while the debate with the later is where the best balance on the damages vs advantages is.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#285Just image the amount of "treatments" the xray techs are getting.. I know they wear shields, but still..
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#286I am all for evidence-based medicine making its way into dentristry if it's lacking... but if you're someone who is worried about cumulative exposure to X-ray length radiation, what is the dosage? And can we compare it relative to to say, millimeter scanners at the airport or a domestic flight? I was under the impression that the digital machines they use these days are: 1. localised 2. very, very low dose
I have the same question. Why should I care? It's not an extra cost to me, so the radiation would be the reason, but I assume it's quite minor.
I assume you mean it's covered by some sort of insurance (private or public) in which case you are paying for it you just don't really control how much you pay by individually opting in or out.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#287You might be surprised that treatment recommendations vary dramatically from one dentist office to the next. [1] I am glad to know this about X-rays as well- it’s probably a useful indicator that if X-rays are not overprescribed the dentist will more likely not over treat. And if they react defensively to being told you want to follow the ADA guidelines that’s probably a sign they don’t think about whether they are o…
Two stories. 1) Just yesterday I went to a an acclaimed dental school (UNC) for low cost dental care. They not only gave me a panoramic x ray but also a full set of bite-wing x rays. I read this and I want to break the world apart this morning. 2) When I was a child I kep needing root canals. It turned out our dentist was making these all up and was later found passed out from laughing gas in his office.
>When I was a child I kep needing root canals. It turned out our dentist was making these all up
Uhh.. dude should've been in jail for that imo
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#288Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have the same question. Why should I care? It's not an extra cost to me, so the radiation would be the reason, but I assume it's quite minor.
I assume you mean it's covered by some sort of insurance (private or public) in which case you are paying for it you just don't really control how much you pay by individually opting in or out.
True, but dental insurance is so cheap relative to medical insurance.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#289Earlier quoted context omitted.
I strongly suspect my dentist is making shit up, too. I had to refuse a couple of expensive treatments. The main goal seems to be to “use up” my dental insurance more than anything.
this is it right here - 'use up your dental insurance'.
Seems it would be best to say you don't have insurance, get a better cash price, then submit reimbursement to insurance oneself.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#290Earlier quoted context omitted.
And it is the biggest reason we need universal healthcare.
I actually don't see how universal health care would help in this situation. Bad actors are going to try and milk whatever system pays the bills. Capitalism "should" be pretty good at taking care of this kind of stuff. I'm not sure why insurance companies aren't better at reining in these kind of abuses.
> I'm not sure why insurance companies aren't better at reining in these kind of abuses.
I think they are working on it. My dentist has cameras shaped roughly like a toothbrush. Before and after performing work, they record images of the affected area. He says insurance likes them to thoroughly document their work to help justify the cost.