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Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence

(arstechnica.com)
352 points keithly | 4 comments | 14 Oct 24 21:37 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | 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Other outdated yet still routine dental practices include polishing of teeth during checkups for any justification other than cosmetic reasons
replies(3): >>41842471 #>>41842497 #>>41842519 #
jebarker ◴[14 Oct 24 22:03 UTC] No.41842519[source]▶
My bugbear with dentists in the US (after living my first 30 years in the UK) is that they all continually hassle me to have my wisdom teeth removed. Said teeth have never caused me any problems and are all through the gums. I can only assume it's dogma or an opportunity to bill insurance for costly unnecessary surgery.
replies(10): >>41842546 #>>41842574 #>>41842645 #>>41842747 #>>41842806 #>>41842862 #>>41842967 #>>41843141 #>>41843172 #>>41846303 #
electronbeam ◴[14 Oct 24 22:05 UTC] No.41842546[source]▶
I was told they get harder to remove when you’re older
replies(3): >>41842660 #>>41842693 #>>41842749 #
doe_eyes ◴[14 Oct 24 22:16 UTC] No.41842660[source]▶
It's one of these areas where people (including medical professionals) hold strong beliefs, but then it turns out that there are other highly-developed countries where this is not routinely practiced, and the outcomes aren't necessarily different.

Routine wisdom teeth removal is not a thing in most of Europe. Another random example are colonoscopies and routine flu vaccines (except for the elderly).

replies(3): >>41842859 #>>41843770 #>>41846714 #
1. tzs ◴[15 Oct 24 00:42 UTC] No.41843770[source]▶
Flu may not be too dangerous in people who aren't elderly but it still sucks. Can a non-elderly, not in any other high risk group, person get seasonal flu vaccination in Europe if they ask for it, and is it covered by European health care systems?
replies(3): >>41846607 #>>41846632 #>>41846704 #
2. ◴[15 Oct 24 09:14 UTC] No.41846607[source]▶
3. trq01758 ◴[15 Oct 24 09:17 UTC] No.41846632[source]▶
Not covered, but I can get the shot at nearby pharmacy for 15€.
4. MandieD ◴[15 Oct 24 09:30 UTC] No.41846704[source]▶
They're not only covered by the gesetzliche Krankenkassen (German public health insurance providers, mandatory if you don't meet the criteria for private insurance), mine gives me a little bonus if I prove I've gotten various vaccines, including annual COVID booster and flu.