Well, the vast majority of working folk do too.
Yearly X rays at the dental office
- Thread starter whizbyu
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Well, the vast majority of working folk do too.
2024 had two crowns $1500 each
Just had a root canal $1400
To fill the root canal temp filling $220
Have dental insurance two check up a year and one set of x rays and $1500 for crowns and fillings.
Just had a root canal $1400
To fill the root canal temp filling $220
Have dental insurance two check up a year and one set of x rays and $1500 for crowns and fillings.
My dentist automatically does 4 bitewings once every year. I don't really love it, but he is a good dentist (I have had some bad ones) so I go along.
Dental x-ray (four bitewings): 0.004 mSv (0.4 mrem) https://www.epa.gov/radiation/frequent-questions-radiation-medicine#:~:text=Single chest x-ray: 0.02,): 0.004 mSv (0.4 mrem)
Living in Denver you get over 90mrem a year from the altitude. The average place in the USA is 46mrem just from the environment. I live at sea level so I am likely below that. Of course I have had a few CT's so I am likely hosed already.
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/calculator.html
Dental x-ray (four bitewings): 0.004 mSv (0.4 mrem) https://www.epa.gov/radiation/frequent-questions-radiation-medicine#:~:text=Single chest x-ray: 0.02,): 0.004 mSv (0.4 mrem)
Living in Denver you get over 90mrem a year from the altitude. The average place in the USA is 46mrem just from the environment. I live at sea level so I am likely below that. Of course I have had a few CT's so I am likely hosed already.
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/calculator.html
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Care to share the name of this dentist?
We have some very reputable dentists in my area (also Vancouver), but the yearly x-rays seem a bit excessive, especially since I haven't had a cavities/noticeable gum recession in over 10 years.
1. If you're moderate to high risk for cavities then yearly films seems reasonable. If you're low risk for cavities I'd go 18-24 months.
2. Every single dental restoration your dentist has ever placed into your mouth has a life span and WILL need to be replaced. You also have to account for new things that come up too - there's no reason you can't get a cavity on previously sound tooth structure right next to a filling requiring the dentist to need to patch it up.
I get two cleanings and one x-ray every year. My dentist will get me right in if I have a problem that needs immediate repair. That's their policy and I like it.
I'd suggest you discuss it with your dentist. Ask why you're getting yearly x-rays? Maybe there's a reason. Or he/she might decide on a different interval.
I have no doubt they're valuable. The only question is "how often?"
Everyone should have and see a dentist regularly. Could you explain why @PWMDMD.
Are you able to define moderate to high risk?
There are several common caries risk assessment tools that can be used to determine cavity risk.
My dentist is in Delta, if that works for you I can PM you the place.
Dentists always make their boat payments.
My old dentist quit and started a winery.
My old dentist quit and started a winery.
I get xrays with each cleaning every 6 months. Zero out of pocket. I wouldn't go to a dentist that didn't do this.
I think you missed the point, the point is dentists do those x rays whether they need them or not but to use all insurance allocations for them. Patients often don't object as insurance pays.
Simply because your plan will pay for something doesn't mean having it is a good idea.
Your medical plan would probably pay to have your appendix removed. So your physician should just remove your appendix? Well why not?
It would probably pay for triple bypass surgery too. "You're not doing anything for the next 3 weeks anyway. Just climb up here and lets get started."
What's different about these obviously crazy suggestions? You don't need the service. To be sensible, a service needs to be a service you need, not just a service your plan will pay for.
Your medical plan would probably pay to have your appendix removed. So your physician should just remove your appendix? Well why not?
It would probably pay for triple bypass surgery too. "You're not doing anything for the next 3 weeks anyway. Just climb up here and lets get started."
What's different about these obviously crazy suggestions? You don't need the service. To be sensible, a service needs to be a service you need, not just a service your plan will pay for.
My daughter is a dentist. I rarely have cavities but older crowns and sometimes fillings fail...crowns more so. I have the X-rays once per year. The X-rays serve their intended purpose...they show things not visible during a detailed visual inspection. I did away with dental insurance before my kid even graduated dental school. It's at best just a money swap. There are so many exclusions, limits and exceptions in most policies... typical one is crowns. Almost every policy has a significant waiting period for crowns. The insurance company line is they want to make sure you're practicing preventative care. Suspicious at best. You start a new policy and a month later a crown fails....you're not waiting 5-6 months to replace it. Cosmetic work is never covered and neither are implants, which are extremely expensive.
What I have noticed is there is a direct correlation between dental health and overall health.
People that neglect one almost always neglect the other.
What I have noticed is there is a direct correlation between dental health and overall health.
People that neglect one almost always neglect the other.
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Some dentists are actually conservative and do things only as needed, not as expected. Mine does typical bitewing type x-rays every 18-24 months and a panoramic maybe once every 3-4 yrs. If during an exam something looks a bit iffy they might opt to do a quick bitewing for a better look, but not often in my case. Also, fillings are sometimes redone as no filling will hold up indefinitely regardless of the spin put on it.
I don't get annual x rays unless there's a problem. I just tell them I have no dental insurance and can't afford them right now. I think the x rays do more harm than good.
Unless you are experiencing any problems with that filled tooth, I would leave it be. To patch it , the old filling needs to be ground out. That weakens the tooth and it is more prone to breakage. That happened to me when my dentist was trying to have me replace all silver fillings. Never again.
