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I suspect dentists push flossing as a way of convincing their patients that they're not doing enough, and can therefore push more services. "Well sir, if you on

I suspect dentists push flossing as a way of convincing their patients that they're not doing enough, and can therefore push more services. "Well sir, if you only flossed regularly like we tell you, you wouldn't need all these regular deep cleanings!"

KoftaBob 3y ago
I'm not sure how it works in other countries, but in the US, dentists generally need to provide xray/imaging of the mouth to back up whatever diagnosis/procedures they recommend, or dental insurance will reject it. It's only when a patient is paying fully out of pocket when a dentist would perhaps have an easier time getting a way with over-diagnosing. Even then, they can still get in trouble with the ADA since that treads closely with medical fraud. As is the case in many parts of the healthcare industry in the US (and many other countries), for practitioners who don't care as much about the ethics of it, they'll tread as closely as they can without crossing over into outright fraud.
sarchertech 3y ago
You think there is conspiracy at the ADA level to push a free fake treatment as a way to convince patients to pay for other expensive fake treatments? And this conspiracy has infiltrated not only the ADA and every dental schools but dental hygienist schools and dental agencies all over the world. Dentists are all remarkably consistent about flossing. This level of coordination would require an actual coordinated conspiracy that is massive in scale.
- baby 3y ago
  Dentists in the US* flossing basically doesn’t exist in other parts of the world
  - sarchertech 3y ago
    Of countries where I could easily find an English website, the Australian, Canadian, and Irish Dental association all recommend flossing.
  - KoftaBob 3y ago
    Countries where "flossing doesn't exist" are probably places where people have poor oral health and jacked up teeth. I would argue that flossing is even more important than brushing teeth, since the food particles stuck between teeth are more likely to stick around and feed the bacteria that cause cavities and bad breath.
    - baby 3y ago
      > Countries where "flossing doesn't exist" are probably places where people have poor oral health and jacked up teeth Said someone who probably never travelled in Europe

KoftaBob 3y ago

I'm not sure how it works in other countries, but in the US, dentists generally need to provide xray/imaging of the mouth to back up whatever diagnosis/procedures they recommend, or dental insurance will reject it. It's only when a patient is paying fully out of pocket when a dentist would perhaps have an easier time getting a way with over-diagnosing. Even then, they can still get in trouble with the ADA since that treads closely with medical fraud. As is the case in many parts of the healthcare industry in the US (and many other countries), for practitioners who don't care as much about the ethics of it, they'll tread as closely as they can without crossing over into outright fraud.

sarchertech 3y ago

You think there is conspiracy at the ADA level to push a free fake treatment as a way to convince patients to pay for other expensive fake treatments? And this conspiracy has infiltrated not only the ADA and every dental schools but dental hygienist schools and dental agencies all over the world. Dentists are all remarkably consistent about flossing. This level of coordination would require an actual coordinated conspiracy that is massive in scale.

baby 3y ago
Dentists in the US* flossing basically doesn’t exist in other parts of the world
- sarchertech 3y ago
  Of countries where I could easily find an English website, the Australian, Canadian, and Irish Dental association all recommend flossing.
- KoftaBob 3y ago
  Countries where "flossing doesn't exist" are probably places where people have poor oral health and jacked up teeth. I would argue that flossing is even more important than brushing teeth, since the food particles stuck between teeth are more likely to stick around and feed the bacteria that cause cavities and bad breath.
  - baby 3y ago
    > Countries where "flossing doesn't exist" are probably places where people have poor oral health and jacked up teeth Said someone who probably never travelled in Europe