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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.