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Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

theguardian.com

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Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#91

Post by lobster_johnson »

atom-morgan wrote: post #35
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

People still get their wisdom teeth taken out without being put under. I heard one person describe the process inside your mouth sounding like a tree trunk being snapped in half.

I'm from Scandinavia, where this is the norm.

I've had 4 wisdom teeth removed with local anaesthetic. I felt absolutely nothing during the procedures, though the sound of my teeth being hammered into pieces (two were lodged horizontally and had to be manhandled) was certainly unnerving.

After it was done I got up and got home, no side effects. I have no idea why it's apparently so common for a general anaesthetic in the US. (On the other hand, without it we wouldn't have hundreds of YouTube videos featuring hilariously rambling, drugged-up teens.)

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#92

Post by verelo »

atom-morgan wrote: post #35
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

People still get their wisdom teeth taken out without being put under. I heard one person describe the process inside your mouth sounding like a tree trunk being snapped in half.

I had mine taken out while awake (all 4 at once). I was 28 at the time.

Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad of an experience. I was back at work briefly the next day and then fairly normal within 48 hours.

Personally the idea of going under seemed like an unnecessary risk given that being awake was an option. Price didn't have much to do with.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#93

Post by kbutler »

to3m wrote: post #58
Kluny wrote: post #9

I've often heard conspiracy theorists say that if dentists ever learned of a way to cure cavities more cheaply and without drilling, they'd suppress the information as it would endanger their business. I think this is insane, but can anyone offer a sound economic argument for why dentists would embrace the new technique instead of cartelling up to suppress it?

I wonder if quick checkups are any less profitable per unit time than doing fillings. Not much in the way of materials required, and you can get a good throughput, with each visit likely to be of predictable duration. (My teeth are in good shape, and my average dentist visit takes all of 15 minutes: check teeth for basic soundness, scrape off tartar, remove tea stains from upper incisors. Still costs me £55.) There i…

In the U.S., checkups are primarily done by the (less-expensive) dental assistant doing the X-rays, the (moderately expensive) hygienist doing the cleaning, followed by a quick inspection of mouth and X-rays by the (expensive) dentist. I imagine that the predictability and minimal time use of the dentist would allow it to be quite profitable.

However, as teeth become drastically less susceptible to disease, people will feel much less need to have regular dentist visits...

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#94

Post by wibr »

atom-morgan wrote: post #35
benjaminwootton wrote: post #14

In a few years I think we will look back on how today's dentists look after teeth with shock, similar to how we do now knowing that they used to treat depression with a frontal lobotomy. "They used to DRILL your teeth? And if that didn't work they yanked them out of your jaw?" It all seems so low tech.

People still get their wisdom teeth taken out without being put under. I heard one person describe the process inside your mouth sounding like a tree trunk being snapped in half.

I had two wisdom teeth removed in one session and it took the dentist just a couple of minutes, with local anesthesia and I didn't feel that much. Not sure why anyone would want general anesthesia unless it's a complicated case. As always, try to find a good dentist who has a lot of practice pulling teeth.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#95

Post by vox_mollis »

transfire wrote: post #86

Not to worry, our duty-bound ADA/FDA cronies will make sure this never sees the light of day. P.S. There is something you can already do btw. If your teeth are still good then go get them sealed . Most dentists won't do it, and will give you some lame excuse. Just go find another dentist. There are a few out there that aren't full of sh*t and they will do it and it will save you thousands of dollars over the course o…

Um, isn't getting one's teeth sealed a typical procedure done for all children once their permanent teeth are in?

This was SOP for me and my siblings, I assume for everyone else, no?

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#96

Post by derriz »

wanderingstan wrote: post #33
pavel_lishin wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to wait. A few decades ago in Russia, anesthesia wasn't used during dentistry. That was a fun time period to grow up in.

No need to even go that far, in 2006 I had a root canal in Germany with no anesthesia or pain killers given. Made worse by the fact I didn't understand what it was being done. My German was terrible and the dentist's English was worse.

Must be a thing in German speaking countries? Last year i was asked if i wanted local anesthetic when the dentist was about to drill a back tooth for a crown in Zurich. I blinked with incomprehension - I couldn't believe anyone would NOT want anesthesia. But apparently I had understood correctly and according to the dentist quite a few ask to forego it.

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#97

Post by evo_9 »

transfire wrote: post #86

Not to worry, our duty-bound ADA/FDA cronies will make sure this never sees the light of day. P.S. There is something you can already do btw. If your teeth are still good then go get them sealed . Most dentists won't do it, and will give you some lame excuse. Just go find another dentist. There are a few out there that aren't full of sh*t and they will do it and it will save you thousands of dollars over the course o…

Yeah my first though reading this story was this won't happen in the US anytime soon. Reminds me of how Gordie Howe recently had a stroke and was days from dying before the family flew him to Mexico and to receive stem cell treatment.

Mr. Howe has recovered enough to walk and resume public speaking which, if you know anyone that's had a stroke (my mother and mother-in-law both recently died after strokes) this is not the norm.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=751450

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#98

Post by [deleted] »

Estragon wrote: post #90
transfire wrote: post #86

Not to worry, our duty-bound ADA/FDA cronies will make sure this never sees the light of day. P.S. There is something you can already do btw. If your teeth are still good then go get them sealed . Most dentists won't do it, and will give you some lame excuse. Just go find another dentist. There are a few out there that aren't full of sh*t and they will do it and it will save you thousands of dollars over the course o…

Wow, I've never heard of this option before. What are the potential drawbacks?

[deleted]

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#99

Post by kbutler »

Estragon wrote: post #90
transfire wrote: post #86

Not to worry, our duty-bound ADA/FDA cronies will make sure this never sees the light of day. P.S. There is something you can already do btw. If your teeth are still good then go get them sealed . Most dentists won't do it, and will give you some lame excuse. Just go find another dentist. There are a few out there that aren't full of sh*t and they will do it and it will save you thousands of dollars over the course o…

Wow, I've never heard of this option before. What are the potential drawbacks?

Primarily just limitations - only applies to chewing surfaces, not sides or between teeth, and can only be applied to non-filled healthy teeth. Approx 5-year lifespan, should be checked at regular dentist visits.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-sealants

Re: Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment

#100

Post by bjwbell »

transfire wrote: post #86

Not to worry, our duty-bound ADA/FDA cronies will make sure this never sees the light of day. P.S. There is something you can already do btw. If your teeth are still good then go get them sealed . Most dentists won't do it, and will give you some lame excuse. Just go find another dentist. There are a few out there that aren't full of sh*t and they will do it and it will save you thousands of dollars over the course o…

Weird, I thought all dentists recommended sealing as a matter of course. Maybe I was just lucky.
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