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.
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.
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/
Great article, and shocking to see the prices mentioned and this at the end: This article originally ran in the February 1997 issue of Reader’s Digest.
But then it also says after that Originally Published: November 18, 2020 Who knows?
When has healthcare been privatized?
Takes 6 months to even get an appointment!
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…
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.
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.
Sorry bud.
I explained it once, if you’re going to act like this, I’m not putting in more effort to help you just because you spammed replies to every comment in this thread with insults.
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Why would you double down here? This is known to be false by everyone present. Learn a new fact and move on with your life.
Learn a new fact and move on with your life.
I was legitimately going to ask what you thought needed a source till that second sentence…
I gave someone else some sources though, feel free to keep lurking, just don’t expect any personal help
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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.
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.
Comma splice x2.
I was legitimately going to ask what you thought needed a source till that second sentence…
'til ; as in, the abbreviation of ‘until’, and not a plough or a cash-drawer or a boat’s rudder.
I gave someone else some sources though, feel free to keep lurking, just don’t expect any personal help
Comma splice x2.
Or if you asked questions instead of stating sentence fragments, people would probably take more time explaining things to you.
‘Sentence fragments’? You may want to step away from the glass house when you lob accusations like that.
I don’t think you understand what cleanings are…
It’s painfully obvious through all your comments that you don’t know the first thing about cleanings or dental health.
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
Here (Swiss) it’s every year.
it’s all year
What exactly happens continually throughout the year for you?
Spelling errors.
No, it was spelled right. Just a grammatical error.
