Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
arstechnica.com
Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
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Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#2Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#3I'm going to also throw anecdotes into the bucket: three dentists completely missed a cavity on one of my rear molars (wisdom teeth) until I mentioned pain, and then they poked around physically and said, "oh yeah, that's a big one."
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#4Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
and fees. But are checkups themselves backed by evidence? Unless you say “It hurts there”, will the dentist find anything on their own?
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#5I'm going to also throw anecdotes into the bucket: three dentists completely missed a cavity on one of my rear molars (wisdom teeth) until I mentioned pain, and then they poked around physically and said, "oh yeah, that's a big one."
What kind of dental x-rays they took? Panoramic (shows the whole row of teeth in one image), CBCT (volumetric 3D) or intraoral (a digital sensor or film was put inside your mouth)?
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#6Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
Don’t you polish your prized possessions?
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#7Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
and fees. But are checkups themselves backed by evidence? Unless you say “It hurts there”, will the dentist find anything on their own?
Good question, cochrane says longer check-up intervals than the standard 6-months aren't any worse assuming you don't have pre-existing conditions
https://www.cochrane.org/news/featured-review-how-often-shou...
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#8Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
and fees. But are checkups themselves backed by evidence? Unless you say “It hurts there”, will the dentist find anything on their own?
> will the dentist find anything on their own?
In my experience they always find something that they "have time to take care of right now if you want". I've heard anecdotes of folks going to get second opinions that reaches a different conclusion.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#9Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
My bugbear with dentists in the US (after living my first 30 years in the UK) is that they all continually hassle me to have my wisdom teeth removed. Said teeth have never caused me any problems and are all through the gums. I can only assume it's dogma or an opportunity to bill insurance for costly unnecessary surgery.
Re: Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence
#10Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
My bugbear with dentists in the US (after living my first 30 years in the UK) is that they all continually hassle me to have my wisdom teeth removed. Said teeth have never caused me any problems and are all through the gums. I can only assume it's dogma or an opportunity to bill insurance for costly unnecessary surgery.
I was told they get harder to remove when you’re older