Routine dental X-rays are not backed by evidence

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/

Two stories.

1) Just yesterday I went to a an acclaimed dental school (UNC) for low cost dental care. They not only gave me a panoramic x ray but also a full set of bite-wing x rays. I read this and I want to break the world apart this morning.

2) When I was a child I kep needing root canals. It turned out our dentist was making these all up and was later found passed out from laughing gas in his office.

I strongly suspect my dentist is making shit up, too. I had to refuse a couple of expensive treatments. The main goal seems to be to “use up” my dental insurance more than anything.

this is it right here - 'use up your dental insurance'.

And it is the biggest reason we need universal healthcare.

I actually don't see how universal health care would help in this situation. Bad actors are going to try and milk whatever system pays the bills. Capitalism "should" be pretty good at taking care of this kind of stuff. I'm not sure why insurance companies aren't better at reining in these kind of abuses.