Here's a question. Dental X Rays. How often do you consent to them? They generally like to take bite wing X rays every 12 months, and full mouth X rays every five years.

I have excellent oral hygiene (the dentist says so ) and see them just about every six months...sometimes a bit longer between appointments, just because...

Anyway, I don't consent to the full Xrays every five years. It's costly, I don't have dental issues, so thanks, but no thanks. The bite wing X rays(to find decay between the back teeth) I'll agree to every 18 months or so, but not every 12..... how many X rays do they need?

I had them done yesterday. Turned out I had declined them for longer than I usually would, time flies.......thankfully, everything looked OK.

So, do you follow a typical schedule as far as X-Rays or do you adjust it more to suit what you think is appropriate.

 

Our insurance pays for 'em....so this ^^ is pretty much the sched that Kathy and I follow. I think the full Xray set may even be done more often than @ 5

We both follow pretty good dental hygiene these days, but DO have a lot of fillings/ crowns/ etc....both genes and youthful inattention Thus, there are a lot of "hiding" places for bad stuff to happen I floss thoroughly every morning, and Kathy does both night and morn.

Speaking of insurance, Kathy had an interesting case of a few weeks ago. She needed a filling replaced in a rear tooth and it was done with composite (tooth color) material. Lo and behold, we get an insur statement that says coverage only provided for METAL filling in a rear tooth ....so that the dentist can CHARGE for the balance (rather than accepting the insur company payment). Since Kathy doesn't remember the dentist EXPLAINING this difference in reimbursement, she is in process of negotiating any balance due with the dentist.

Once again, all of us have to be wise (and sometimes feisty) consumers to avoid getting

 

For the first time EVA, Rick has dental insurance. Good thing as he does need some stuff done....I'm on my own plan, no dental insurance. I did read through his material and did find that they only pay the equivalent of a silver filling in back teeth. Still, better than no insurance payment.

 

In your situation, Lainey, I would also streeeeeeeeeetch out the intervals between the dental Xrays....and the dental check-ups too. You're lucky to have healthy teeth. I hope that you DO have medical insurance, however, b/c unforeseen diseases can wipe out almost anyone

As in many other medical things, we are focusing on getting "all systems in tip top shape" before the end of our full health/ dental/ vision coverage. My current BC/BS Personal Choice coverage is very good....so I'm doing as many things as possible now.

Once we get into the Medicare era in a few years, then a lot of our services will also be self-pay

 

^
We have good health insurance, though mine has an annoying $1500.00 diagnostic deductible. We have two separate plans as a family plan at either place of employment is just too expensive.

My teeth are healthy, but there have been plenty of fillings, a bridge and a cap or two along the way...I'm watching them closely. I know I have one tooth with a large filing that could use a cap, but I've been procrastinating....

 

My dentist does the cleaning every 6 months and bite wing xray every 18 months. I also have good teeth, my dentist tells me I'll take my teeth to the grave. . . What a refreshing thought!

 

I think things like X rays and even cleanings don't need to be done at the same interval for everyone.

If your teeth are not crowded, if you practice good dental hygiene at home, if you don't smoke and do not have issues with your gums I think some of their guidelines are a bit of overkill.....

 

^^ Glenn, I asked the same ? at my last visit ("how long will I have my own choppers?") and the doc said I should have almost all of 'em.

I would be pleased to avoid the whole disgusting false teeth routine....not to mention the $$$ involved. I like to eat corn on the cob, a fresh crisp apple.....much better than corn pudding and apple sauce

 

My good tooth health is probably do to the fact that I was raised in dairy country, upstate New York. Roaming milk dispensers were everywhere!

 

Lainey, I don't have any dental insurance either. My dentist wants me there every 6 months for a cleaning and I think x rays every year. I only go once a year for a cleaning. I say no to the xrays unless she has of a good reason, other than just because. I always go in January near my birthday. I had to have two fillings replaced this year. They do wear out. I imagine I'll have more of that in the future as my childhood fillings age. I have three or four crowns and a bunch of fillings.

...How about pockets? I had never heard of them before, but now my dentist measures them. My first dentist in Acton, a very old man, never did. My current dentist does.

...Oh, and how about cleanings? Does your dentist use the ultrasonic (?) vibrating machine to clean the plaque off? I hate that thing!! My old man dentist, Kent, would laugh when he'd send me out of the chair with it. He said my mouth conducted electricity. No Shit! And he claimed to be the "Gentle Dentist"! I dropped him for Debra, and she will do the cleaning by hand as much as possible, since she knows I hate the other device.

...Oh, and who actually does your cleaning? In Acton, it was a small office so the dentist, Kent, and then Debra, did all the work themselves. No dental hygenists. Debra has another office closer to me that I'll be going to from now on. She does have hygenists in that office so I imagine they'll be doing the job now.