Dental X-rays- but of a scam?

[Miljah]

I have an NHS dentist. I am mid 50s with 'OK' teeth. Thus, as we now know to be true, a visit every 2 years should suffice.

Natch they want you to attend every 6 months which strikes me as a bit daft, anyway. You don't get a colonoscopy or a body CT every 6 months, 'just in case' do you? 😊

Anyway, I tire of the attempt to X-ray your teeth most visits, as an 'over-view', as opposed to checking out a specific issue, like pre root-canal or crown, which is justified.

I see the images and the fact is, many are not well done, and there's only 1/2 to 2/3 of the root on them (I'm talking intra-oral, not OOG, here). Plus you're getting a radiation dose.

Do you think it's just a money spinner, and do you, like me, refuse?

PomDeNlume but it's not worth worrying about apparently

"Final note- old style bite wings gave you a way higher dose of radiation than a chest xray since intensifying screens were invented!"
That shouldn't be true for any UK dentist these days - dental radiation doses are much lower

Yes, I know, but if you're knocking on a bit, you've already had quite a lot of head radiation from the big doses you used to get!

Miljah i see what you mean, good point! I'd be asking questions if a dentist was still using an x ray machine with a pointy cone on the end...

We don’t just take them for the sake of it and if you’re in England on the NHS they won’t actually cost you anything unless they show work that needs doing so hardly a money spinner.

I am an NHS dental patient. I havent had any treatment for many, many years. I definitely pay more when I have a checkup and X-rays than when there are no X-rays. Is this wrong? I definitely have to pay towards my treatment (and my uni student daughter has to pay toward hers toowhich I think is wrong but there you go).

2 yearly recalls are for if you have basically perfect teeth. I have quite a few patients with 1 year recalls, but again these are people who have minimal fillings and no calculus, perfect gums.

I have no fillings, no bleeding from my gums, floss everyday, I still go yearly. I personally wouldn't want to risk 2 yr recalls on my own teeth so if you have 'ok' teeth then I wouldn't risk that on you. 'Ok' sounds like 6 many recalls to me

The dentist before me didn't take many bitewings, now I'm taking bitewings and guess what! I'm finding lots of big carious lesions that if bitewings had been taken at the recommended intervals would be small fillings but are in fact verging on root canals.

I have trained 5 years, I have read the guidelines. I think that as a dentist I know when is appropriate to take x-rays and when not. And if you have an NHS dentist then they make no money from taking x-rays. Bitewings don't show all of the root anyway.

You are more than welcome to refuse, it's your choice. I don't mind at all, as long as you are happy to take that risk then it would matter very little to me.

If you want to visit your dentist less frequently just do that. Cancel any appointment. Or say you'll have to ring to make your next one as your waiting for some appointments to come up. Say you're busy & will ring when there is a gap in your diary.

I didn't go for over 2 decades! Mixture of no NHS places available and moving. Then embarrassed because of gap. But then I needed a check up before cancer treatment. Didn't need anything doing! Only had a bit of a descale with hygienist that's it. Got x-rays but hey I've had radiotherapy since so I've had to make a conscious decision not to worry about radiation! Recall for a year. I left it very slightly longer... No qualms about doing this. My DH was advised to see the hygienist. He put it off for a few months. Just very busy.

So just relax. Shrug your shoulders. Fit the appointments in when you can. As long as you don't leave it so long they no longer consider you a patient, you'll be fine.

My private dentist use to want to do them often. I mostly refused as I don't want exposure more than absolutely necessary.

My NHS dentist has never so much as suggested it in 9 years.

So which one is wrong?

I'm with an NHS dentist too and rarely if ever get offered dental x-rays. The only time they gave me an x-ray was when I told them I had pain in my tooth. They did an x-ray as a precautionary measure.

Otherwise, no X-rays. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm a bit angry with my practice. They used to do a check up and do a scale and polish.
Then they stopped it for a few years. My teeth looked bad, but the hygenist always had a massive list!
Then I get a new dentist and they said I was at risk of getting gum disease.
She deep cleaned my teeth in 15 mins! All those years of bad teeth for nothing.

I have 2 year recalls. I have no fillings, no tartar, never spit blood, can’t remember when I last had an x Ray. I also eat very little sugar and am not fond of fruit which I think helps. However if my dentist told me I needed to come more often and/ or have an x Ray, I would trust their professional judgement.

@BuggerOff
If you are in England then X-rays are included in the same charge as the exam (band 1). There are no additional charges for X-rays.

Scotland is still fee per item so there are additional costs. I have no idea what Wales does.

No idea if it is a scam but £50ish pounds for a check up every 6 months is worth it for me. I have horrible, weak, crumbling, sensitive teeth and I go to my NHS Dentist every six months. She always x-rays my teeth and I always need something doing - that is extra. Next week I'm having a crown.

She no longer cleans, scales and polishes them like she used to do - not sure why. Perhaps that is extra these days - I have no idea? But whatever - it seems like a fair price to pay.

It’s good to read that so many dentists are following the FGDP selection criteria on dental radiography, which is bitewings 2 yearly on low caries risk patients.
Your dentist is doing the right thing to do this, it isn’t a scam.
I once took over a list - back in the day- from a dentist who didn’t do many rads and it was a mess. I got very good at taking teeth out!
I don’t do 2 yearly recalls for anyone as a yearly oral cancer screening is appropriate even if you have no teeth at all.

If you don't like your dentist find another one.

If you don't want to go every 6 months then cancel the appointment. If you don't want an X-ray then refuse. If you do decide to do that then don't complain if you find you need more extensive work later down the line.

If you want to decline the x Ray, decline it. I generally do. Whatever the guidelines say I'm not mad keen on radiating my head. I also decline the inside out eyelid bit at my contact lens check, as it makes me want to vomit. My body, my risk my choice.