Do you need a dentist visit every 6 months? That filling? The data is weak
Do you need a dentist visit every 6 months? That filling? The data is weak
Getting evidence-based care may be like pulling teeth, researchers suggest.
A 2020 Cochrane review that assessed the two clinical trials concluded that "whether adults see their dentist for a check‐up every six months or at personalized intervals based on their dentist's assessment of their risk of dental disease does not affect tooth decay, gum disease, or quality of life. Longer intervals (up to 24 months) between check‐ups may not negatively affect these outcomes." The Cochrane reviewers reported that they were "confident" of little to no difference between six-month and risk-based check-ups and were "moderately confident" that going up to 24-month checkups would make little to no difference either.
Likewise, Nadanovsky and his colleagues highlight that there is no evidence supporting the benefit of common scaling and polishing treatments for adults without periodontitis. And for children, cavities in baby teeth are routinely filled, despite evidence from a randomized controlled trial that rates of pain and infections are similar—about 40 percent—whether the cavities are filled or not.
Further evidence that the privatization of healthcare is incentivized to produce worse outcomes and waste.
This article of a dentist testing other dentists gives some more anecdotal evidence: https://www.rd.com/article/how-honest-are-dentists/
Time before last I had a dental checkup, they said I needed 12 fillings. Didn't schedule the fillings.
Last time I went in for a dental checkup, they said I needed 5 fillings. Didn't schedule the fillings.
It's been 15 years since that, and none of my teeth have gone rotten. None of them have gotten painful.
I feel like there's a lot of dentists in here mad that a study scientifically showed dental care is drastically over prescribed...
You post an ancedot about how you were over prescribed treatment which aligns with the scientific study's findings...
And someone immediately tries to tell you it was bad luck you had it happen
And not the norm across various countries like the scientific study found.
Some dentists can be very proactive. Mine ID'd 2 small cavities but said if I focus on those areas they will probably not grow and be fine.
My wife's childhood dentist gave her more than a dozen fillings for small cavities. If you ever get a dentist like that, I'd suggest to get a second opinion.
Don't fuck around with your mouth health: dentures are not fun and infections there can be lethal. But another check-up won't hurt if you think something's off.
If you have mercenary healthcare, they're gonna want their money.
This is one of those cases where I invoke my policy of "don't let the person charging you money for something tell you how often you need to do it." It's like companies selling mattresses saying you should replace them every 6-8 years.
Takes 6 months to even get an appointment!
I think the 6mo cleanings are the prepare for people who don't take good care of their teeth. My plan allows for 3/4 cleanings a year if I want them. And some people are a lot more prone.
are the prepare
What?
for people who don’t take good care of their teeth
Genetically, some people have weaker enamel. Economically, your childhood dental care will greatly affect your adulthood needs.
I KNEW IT
Man, just know my dental plan would take a study like this to move to once a year cleanings :(
I like getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist
It's like waterboarding to me!
I also remember reading some research which said that time spent flossing is better spent brushing.
Can’t help but wonder if the fillings I got as a kid which need to be replaced every few years were avoidable.
Can confirm some bias with a trust me bro here for sure.
Rotting food is what causes most issues with teeth is my understanding for a healthy person.
Depending on how your teeth are spaces, brushing will do fuck all to dislodge the rot. Flossing is the only way to do it for me. Water floss is decent when I am lazy but nothing beats that's string friction.
I floss more regularly than brush
Exams are beneficial, they can catch issues early.
The unnecessary cleanings are the bad part, teeth aren't supposed to be bright white, to get them that way we're often stripping off a protective coating.
Like, if you're 60+ years old who cares. But doing it for decades adds up and may end up cancelling out benefits from exams.
What looks best just isn't always the best for long term health.
teeth aren't supposed to be bright white
Dental cleanings don’t make your teeth bright white. Removing tarter doesn’t make your teeth white.
All a dental cleaning should ever be is tarter removal. If your dentist is whitening your teeth then you need to get a proper dentist.
But doing it for decades adds up and may end up cancelling out benefits from exams.
You don’t have the first clue as to what you’re talking about and you’re giving people terrible advice.
That's not what cleanings are for
I don't think you understand what cleanings are...
Likewise, Nadanovsky and his colleagues highlight that there is no evidence supporting the benefit of common scaling and polishing treatments
Like, if you knew what scaling or polishing meant (actually know, not just heard the words) we wouldn't be having this issue.
Or if you asked questions instead of stating sentence fragments, people would probably take more time explaining things to you.
I don't get whitening done at my cleaning. Is getting whitening done common?
No but when they scrape your teeth. It's damaging the enamel.
You don't use a metal spatula or an expensive coated cooking pan, do you?
Enamel doesn't grow back, every little piece that comes off adds up over decades of 2-3 cleanings a year.
Those are cleanings are still whitening, it's just not chemical bleaching.
There's a woman naturalist dentist on YouTube touting xylene chewing gum to repair cavities. Anyone looked into the veracity of her claims?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say a random person on YouTube is not worth it compared to dentists consistently telling you the same thing since childhood.
I mean, how do you put this gently… a random YouTube video likely does not have your interests at heart… and if you have a cavity go see a dentist! It can only get worse.
[Brace yourself]
In the states, insurance often requires cleanings at a set schedule before they cover payments.
Fluoride does prevent cavities and doesn’t promote communism.
Losing teeth can hasten mental decline.
All you gotta do is brush your teeth…