←back to thread

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: 0.001s | source
Show context
gregwebs ◴[15 Oct 24 10:32 UTC] No.41847088[source]▶
You might be surprised that treatment recommendations vary dramatically from one dentist office to the next. [1] I am glad to know this about X-rays as well- it’s probably a useful indicator that if X-rays are not overprescribed the dentist will more likely not over treat. And if they react defensively to being told you want to follow the ADA guidelines that’s probably a sign they don’t think about whether they are over treating.

[1] https://www.rd.com/article/how-honest-are-dentists/

replies(2): >>41847254 #>>41847348 #
1. bradfa ◴[15 Oct 24 11:00 UTC] No.41847254[source]▶
My old dentist retired a few years ago. She had been excellent, in my opinion. The dentist who bought out her practice comes from the school of thought that bitewing x-rays are required every year. I generally decline to have the x-rays done every year, instead opting for every 2ish years cadence. Feels like now I have even more justification to delay future x-rays.

And thanks for the Readers Digest article. A bit of a blast from the past with that publication for me but well written and clearly makes its point about the inconsistencies of dental practice.