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Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence

(arstechnica.com)
352 points keithly | 1 comments | 14 Oct 24 21:37 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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krackers ◴[14 Oct 24 21:56 UTC] No.41842434[source]▶
Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
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eastbound ◴[14 Oct 24 21:58 UTC] No.41842471[source]▶
and fees. But are checkups themselves backed by evidence? Unless you say “It hurts there”, will the dentist find anything on their own?
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SteveNuts ◴[14 Oct 24 22:01 UTC] No.41842502[source]▶
> 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.

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1. eastbound ◴[14 Oct 24 22:11 UTC] No.41842614[source]▶
In Australia they always found me exactly 4 things to do for a total sum of just above $1000 (but never the same things to do). It’s so regular that I can only assume this is the recommended amount by the marketing that a dentist can extract each time.