Is Dentistry a scam?

[Javfly33]

I'm beginning to be very skeptic of mainstream dentist culture.

Last year I went for a check up to my local dentist and he said I had to do some deep cleaning in all of my mouth-gums that costed a lot.

I had to move so I had to go to another dentist to do this treatment. Turns out, the new dentist in other city told me that that wasn't necessary. But instead, he found me 5 cavities. 

Funny that my local dentist didn't found any... Wtf?

In the new dentist apart from the cavities a specialist came and told me I should do surgery because my bite pattern is weird. It looks the 3K of the brackets treatment I got done when I was a teenager was useless then. I said to them I'm going to think about it. I didn't do it of course. 

After I got my cavities removed they told me I should do an overall cleaning of the mouth. I told them Ok.

Now forward 6 months I go to another dentist and they told me I should get a "deep cleaning" in the below part of my mouth. Then what shitty cleaning they did on the previous dentist I went? Why they just didn't do the 'Deep cleaning' too?

Also my retainer (the one they left behind my teeth after finishing my braces treatment) fell off, so they said I should get a new one, but I got the sense that they weren't that alarmed that my teeth would move that much anymore. It seems they are just TRAINED to find new ways to improve your teeth and make $$$$. 

They don't seem to understand that most people do not care about having the perfect smile and none of that crap, most people are not mouth enthusiasts, we don't care about the level of perfection they care!! We just want our teeth just don't falling down or catching an infection.

I'm not sure if I even going to do anything of this latest "diagnosis" with this new dentist, it all seems so random. 

Edited January 11, 2023 by Javfly33

[Michael569]

My experience with the private dentist has partially been similar to a degree. But on the other hand, they've done amazing work where hygiene is concerned. 

I think where surgical treatments are required, you might consider getting a second opinion especially where your dentist is part of a larger corporate body. Sometimes larger corporate interest might be driving incentive for expensive procedures that might, perhaps, still be treatable through cheaper methods. 

Overall, dentistry is definitely not a scam.

The evidence between untreated dental problems and the risk of chronic disease (e.g. infective endocarditis, pneumonia and even neurodegeneration) is mounting up so having someone who can identify early osent periodontal disease risk and treat is is absolutely essential. Not to mention tooth loss is proportionally associated with degradation in wellbeing and with malnutrition in people. This is the main point of regular checkups and hygienist checkups. You want to identify future problems early and treat them while you still can relatively painlessly and cheaply.

Once you need to go and get grafting and titanium implants, you will very quickly see the bottom of your savings account because the amount of specialists who can do those compared to regular corrective surgery is quite small and hence expensive. 

But as always, the industry is corrupted by many rotten eggs and you need to be on the lookout for such. Google reviews might be useful or pages like trustpilot. 

Edited January 11, 2023 by Michael569

[vladorion]

Dentistry in the US/Canada is also extremely overpriced.

Unless it's a small thing you'll save quite a bit of money if you travel abroad to get dental work done.

Edited January 12, 2023 by vladorion

[Clabber Girl]

I dont think overall Dentistry is a scam... But I do think Dentists are the used car salesman of doctors. I had the same experience when a dentist I went to in Cleveland told me each time I went there I had MULTIPLE Cavities. Then I went to one in another city a few times and had no cavities(Dr was younger).

I think the cavity/cleaning thing can be subjective since sometimes a cavity can clear up on its own sometimes it gets worse. I dont have terrible eating habits and at the time I was eating very clean only sugar being fruit. I have also heard you can be more prone to cavities due to your saliva PH balance.

If a dentist tells you your mouth is full of cavities/needs cleaned and you think hes full if it - go get a second opinion.

[Devin]

I didn't start going to the dentist regularly until my twenties, didn't start having cavities until a few years after that, I was going twice a year for cleanings, they scrape your teeth with metal picks, I think they scratch your enamel which makes you more cavity prone, enamel is really hard but it can become thin. The hygienist always told me my teeth were really clean too, I'm leery. I think avoiding sugar, rinsing with water, flossing daily, brushing really well twice a day, and inspect your teeth often with a little dental mirror scraping off any plaque, otherwise probably best to go to the dentist. The dentist is like liposuction for your mouth, you eat sh!t and it screws up your teeth, prevention is preferred.

Chewing your food more, eating more whole foods, and working on your body and mouth posture will help your bite, an odd bite will wear on your teeth. See 'mewing'.

[Leo Gura]

I've had a lot of experience with dentists.

Here's the bottom line:

1) Visit 5-10 dentists and find one who you like/respect. Only visit dentists who get 4/5 star reviews. And don't do business with the busiest dentists who have 500+ reviews. Once a dentist is that popular/busy, they start to get overworked and sloppy. Find dentists who have 4/5 star reviews but not too many, so they are hungry for business and don't take you for granted. Once they have 500+ reviews they will stop caring about you and start treating you like a cog in a machine. And make sure there is only 1 dentist you're dealing with, not a bunch of them in one office who substitute in for each other. You must deal with 1 guy who you hold responsible from beginning to end. Know your dentist by name and make sure he knows you.

2) Never just take their word for anything. Anything they recommend to you, first you ask them for an itemized price list printed out on paper, then you tell them that you will take a few days to think it about. Never make any purchase decisions while you're sitting in the dentist's chair.

3) Don't be afraid to boss them around and tell them what you want. Make them listen to you. They work for you, not the other way around. If your dentist is not willing to listen to you, axe him. When shopping for dentists, ask him questions to test whether he is the kind of person who will listen to you, or the kind who only does what he wants to do. Also observe how distracted he is and how hurried he is. If he is distracted or hurried, running around between multiple patients, don't work with him. The key is to find an honest, hard-working, patient dentist who hasn't yet turned his practice into a factory machine.

Follow these simple laws and you should have great results.

Edited January 12, 2023 by Leo Gura

[hoodrow trillson]

Unfortunately, for us humans it is not a scam.  We only get two sets of teeth.

Half the leg work has to be on you.  Floss daily without missing a day, brush twice a day minimum.  Rinse your mouth with water after every meal.  Watch your sugar intake.  The rest is up to fate and your genetics; ie: your saliva will vary person to person.  Some people's own saliva will wreck your teeth.

Also, do not smoke anything.  That stuff will dry out your mouth while you sleep and causes imbalance of bacteria in your mouth (which you need, to ironically defend against cavities). 

 

[Lyubov]

Ahahahha I literally started to realize dentistry as an industry is kinda scammy and a large portion of it isn’t exactly backed by the best science either. This was back in 2019. I heard a totally different opinion about my mouth from 4 different dentists. Some saying I need braces asap or all my teeth will fall out by the time I’m 50 to other dude saying that’s all a scam and it’s fine if my wisdom teeth stay in. I met a dentist that talked me into removing my bottom ones because they could get infected and I have found it difficult to floss behind them so yeah, I decided to remove them, but it lead up to this after hearing 3-4 different ridiculous opinions on them. The industry is largely built on scamming people and pushing mostly cosmetic treatments. Dentistry is maybe only 50% about health.

[Devin]

21 minutes ago, Lyubov said:

Ahahahha I literally started to realize dentistry as an industry is kinda scammy and a large portion of it isn’t exactly backed by the best science either. This was back in 2019. I heard a totally different opinion about my mouth from 4 different dentists. Some saying I need braces asap or all my teeth will fall out by the time I’m 50 to other dude saying that’s all a scam and it’s fine if my wisdom teeth stay in. I met a dentist that talked me into removing my bottom ones because they could get infected and I have found it difficult to floss behind them so yeah, I decided to remove them, but it lead up to this after hearing 3-4 different ridiculous opinions on them. The industry is largely built on scamming people and pushing mostly cosmetic treatments. Dentistry is maybe only 50% about health.

What country are you in? I hear removing wisdom teeth is an American thing, I'm 32 and have all four wisdom teeth.

Edited January 12, 2023 by Devin

[Javfly33]

28 minutes ago, Lyubov said:

 The industry is largely built on scamming people and pushing mostly cosmetic treatments. 

Right!!

2 minutes ago, KH2 said:

Teeth are such annoying parts of our anatomy. It's so stupid that we need to take so much care for them, and pay so much money for their maintanance. Even current teeth replacements/dental implants are pretty much just shittier versions of our teeth. Someone should finally invent self-repairing, decay-proof teeth

bet

11 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

I've had a lot of experience with dentists.

Here's the bottom line:

1) Visit 5-10 dentists and find one who you like/respect. Only visit dentists who get 4/5 star reviews. And don't do business with the busiest dentists who have 500+ reviews. Once a dentist is that popular/busy, they start to get overworked and sloppy. Find dentists who have 4/5 star reviews but not too many, so they are hungry for business and don't take you for granted. Once they have 500+ reviews they will stop caring about you and start treating you like a cog in a machine. And make sure there is only 1 dentist you're dealing with, not a bunch of them in one office who substitute in for each other. You must deal with 1 guy who you hold responsible from beginning to end. Know your dentist by name and make sure he knows you.

2) Never just take their word for anything. Anything they recommend to you, first you ask them for an itemized price list printed out on paper, then you tell them that you will take a few days to think it about. Never make any purchase decisions while you're sitting in the dentist's chair.

3) Don't be afraid to boss them around and tell them what you want. Make them listen to you. They work for you, not the other way around. If your dentist is not willing to listen to you, axe him. When shopping for dentists, ask him questions to test whether he is the kind of person who will listen to you, or the kind who only does what he wants to do. Also observe how distracted he is and how hurried he is. If he is distracted or hurried, running around between multiple patients, don't work with him. The key is to find an honest, hard-working, patient dentist who hasn't yet turned his practice into a factory machine.

Follow these simple laws and you should have great results.

Damn juicy info, thanks. Well I´lll probably pass on this last one I saw, because they have several dentists and the guy just saw me very quickly! I´ll try the technique you say about 4-5 star but little reviews. Seems like a good strategy.

 

1 hour ago, Nabd said:

As a dentist, I have noticed that most dentists just care about profits OR just don't really care about the patient, while they do actually offer you something (like cleaning your gums and removing cavities), they usually would not care about your own interests and whats best for you, so you should always check different dentists and actually inform yourself a bit because when you vaguely know what you need, the dentist would think twice and care more.

Dentistry is also very complicated but from what you described it sounds like they either dont care or dont know what they doing, if you would like you can send me your x-ray if you have any and I can give you an overall assessment, just so you know what to look for in your next appointment.

Damn I didn't ask them for the x-ray if not I would send it to you. Thanks anyway. And thanks for you info it definitely matches my view on it...

20 hours ago, Clabber Girl said:

I dont think overall Dentistry is a scam... But I do think Dentists are the used car salesman of doctors. I had the same experience when a dentist I went to in Cleveland told me each time I went there I had MULTIPLE Cavities. Then I went to one in another city a few times and had no cavities(Dr was younger).

I think the cavity/cleaning thing can be subjective since sometimes a cavity can clear up on its own sometimes it gets worse. I dont have terrible eating habits and at the time I was eating very clean only sugar being fruit. I have also heard you can be more prone to cavities due to your saliva PH balance.

If a dentist tells you your mouth is full of cavities/needs cleaned and you think hes full if it - go get a second opinion.

Yeah I recently find out that some cavities if they are not very advanced can be reverted. They never told me that...