Dental Issue

[+ LIguy]

Being on the technical end of cosmetic and restorative dentistry I see and hear all kinds of horror stories. The markup on crowns is amazing as most dentists pay 50-150 per crown to the lab depending on the metal used or if using the newish no metal zirconium crowns. They double their crown regular crown fee for an implant crown. And if they send their crown impressions to an offshore lab in China. Vietnam or the Phillipines they pay 25-30 dollars for a crown. As far as quality be cautious. I have worked with about 25 dentists over the past years but I would only go to 5.

[JayCeeKy]

One of the benefits of having a dentist in the family (e.g. one that provides mostly free services) is that you get only the most BASIC of dental services, no frills.

[samhexum]

Oral-B Glide dental floss contributes to elevated levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in the body, according to a new study from the Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California.

 

Scientists are concerned about widespread exposure to PFAS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acids) in the population because the water- and grease-proof substances have been linked with kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, low birth weight, decreased fertility and immune system damage.

 

The new research, published this week in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, offers new insight into how these chemicals end up in people’s bodies and how consumers can limit their exposures by modifying their behavior.

 

“This is the first study to show that using dental floss containing PFAS is associated with a higher body burden of these toxic chemicals,” says lead author Katie Boronow, a staff scientist at Silent Spring. “The good news is, based on our findings, consumers can choose flosses that don’t contain PFAS.”

 

Researchers measured 11 different PFAS chemicals in blood samples taken from 178 middle-aged women enrolled in the Public Health Institute’s Child Health and Development Studies, a multigenerational study of the impact of environmental chemicals and other factors on disease.

 

To understand how people’s behavior influences their exposure to PFAS, the researchers then compared the blood measurements with results from interviews in which they asked the women about nine behaviors that could lead to higher exposures. Half of the women in the analysis were non-Hispanic white and half were African American.

 

Women who flossed with Oral-B Glide tended to have higher levels of a type of PFAS called PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) in their body compared with those who didn’t. To further understand the results, the researchers tested 18 dental flosses (including three Glide products) for the presence of fluorine — a marker of PFAS — using a technique called particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy.

 

All three Glide products tested positive for fluorine, as did two store brand flosses with “compare to Oral-B Glide” labelling and one floss describing itself as a “single strand Teflon fiber” tested positive for fluorine.

 

Representatives for Proctor and Gamble, which manufactures Glide products, have yet to respond to The Post’s request for comment.

 

Boronow’s team points out that the public also is exposed to PFAS in fast food packaging, non-stick pans, waterproof clothing and stain-resistant carpets. African American women who frequently ate prepared food in coated cardboard containers, such as french fries or takeout, had elevated blood levels of four PFAS chemicals compared to women who rarely ate such food. Researchers did not see the same relationship with prepared food among non-Hispanic whites.

 

“Overall, this study strengthens the evidence that consumer products are an important source of PFAS exposure,” says Boronow. “Restricting these chemicals from products should be a priority to reduce levels in people’s bodies.”

[TruthBTold]

Oral-B Glide dental floss contributes to elevated levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in the body, according to a new study from the Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California.

 

Scientists are concerned about widespread exposure to PFAS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acids) in the population because the water- and grease-proof substances have been linked with kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, low birth weight, decreased fertility and immune system damage.

 

The new research, published this week in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, offers new insight into how these chemicals end up in people’s bodies and how consumers can limit their exposures by modifying their behavior.

 

“This is the first study to show that using dental floss containing PFAS is associated with a higher body burden of these toxic chemicals,” says lead author Katie Boronow, a staff scientist at Silent Spring. “The good news is, based on our findings, consumers can choose flosses that don’t contain PFAS.”

 

Researchers measured 11 different PFAS chemicals in blood samples taken from 178 middle-aged women enrolled in the Public Health Institute’s Child Health and Development Studies, a multigenerational study of the impact of environmental chemicals and other factors on disease.

 

To understand how people’s behavior influences their exposure to PFAS, the researchers then compared the blood measurements with results from interviews in which they asked the women about nine behaviors that could lead to higher exposures. Half of the women in the analysis were non-Hispanic white and half were African American.

 

Women who flossed with Oral-B Glide tended to have higher levels of a type of PFAS called PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) in their body compared with those who didn’t. To further understand the results, the researchers tested 18 dental flosses (including three Glide products) for the presence of fluorine — a marker of PFAS — using a technique called particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy.

 

All three Glide products tested positive for fluorine, as did two store brand flosses with “compare to Oral-B Glide” labelling and one floss describing itself as a “single strand Teflon fiber” tested positive for fluorine.

 

Representatives for Proctor and Gamble, which manufactures Glide products, have yet to respond to The Post’s request for comment.

 

Boronow’s team points out that the public also is exposed to PFAS in fast food packaging, non-stick pans, waterproof clothing and stain-resistant carpets. African American women who frequently ate prepared food in coated cardboard containers, such as french fries or takeout, had elevated blood levels of four PFAS chemicals compared to women who rarely ate such food. Researchers did not see the same relationship with prepared food among non-Hispanic whites.

 

“Overall, this study strengthens the evidence that consumer products are an important source of PFAS exposure,” says Boronow. “Restricting these chemicals from products should be a priority to reduce levels in people’s bodies.”

 

Oh great. That's the type I use. Thanks.

[Guest]

To play devil's advocate - my mother went through cosmetic surgery after they removed a large cancerous spot on her face. The first doctor was very nice, very professional in his manner, but after three surgeries that went from bad to worse, he recommended a colleague of his. This new guy had NO bedside manner, brusque and cold, but damn, one surgery later, you could barely tell my mother'd had a big chunk of her nose replaced.

 

One sometimes has to put up with a rude surgeon who has unique expertise. However, sometimes rudeness is just a cover for incompetence.

[Guest]

Yes! I have experienced the same thing with an optometrist here. She said she found something in my retina that signaled imminent blindness. I went to a retinal specialist who did a scan and said it was a normal "wrinkle" and absolutely nothing to be worried about. I returned to the optometrist the next day (stupid me) for a follow-up and she performed another retinal scan but didn't tell me that's what it was. The insurance company rightly denied payment as I'd had one 24 hours before which they did pay, and the optometrist then sent me a bill for over $700 for the one she had sneakily performed. I scheduled an appointment with her office manager/biller armed with documentation and she canceled the charge for the second scan as a "courtesy". I told her that I would never, ever return and they called me about half a dozen times afterwards to persuade me to continue care with them. I let the calls go to voice mail.

 

And your experience with your dentist's office manager matches one I had exactly. When I signed in at the desk for my check-up, she presented me with an estimate of costs for procedures I had neither requested nor needed - all of them cosmetic, and over $8,000. I crumpled it up and asked if she had a wastebasket behind her desk.

 

Had you told your optometrist that you'd had a retinal scan done the day before? If so, her attempting to do it and collect for it would appear to be fraud. If you didn't tell her, well.... silly you....

[thickornotatall]

My last dentist kept up selling to the point I became really aggravated..His office manager was discussing the work I supposedly needed. She said out loud "if you can't afford that we can send you to a xXxX dentist"..that was a racial slur!..I had my records sent to me the next day.

I started with my current and wonderful new dentist 15 years ago. I have no patience for BS..and refuse to be bullied or embarrassed.

[+ tassojunior]

For many years I drove to the University of Maryland in Baltimore dental graduate school. It's the Johns Hopkins of dental schools and America's oldest. It's fees are "market" but reasonable. There was no up-sell, so I know my true needs. The periodontist were excellent. I had United Concordia but gradually they got stingy with what they would pay for in implants.

 

Because I got tired of the hour drive, I recently transferred to a highly-recommended periodontal clinic by my house. At their suggestion, I changed in open season to Metropolitan because "we get lots of money out of them". I've seen what they gouge the insurance companies for.

 

Sadly, getting coverage is more important than what the fees are. America.

[Rudynate]

I like my dentist, but he's a little expensive. I decided to try a dentist who partipated in Kaiser's medicare advantage program. It was really a bummer. His office was in a terribly seedy medical-dental building in Daly City. Just going there was depressing. The waiting room was full of decrepit old people. The equipment was old and out of date. He cleaned my teeth and his technique was so poor that the procedure was actually painful. They then gave me a treatment plan, saying that I needed SEVEN fillings (the last time I had a filling was 25 years ago).

 

That experience taught me that you get what you pay for in dentistry. I will go back to my usual dentist, with his smart designer office and pay his slightly exhorbitant fees without any further complaint.

[kevininsa]

I had a similar issue. I loved my dentist, but he was part of Monarch/Castle Dental. The last couple of years there were more and more recommendations. Suddenly, after seeing my partner for 4 years, they suggested he see an oral surgeon about his wisdom teeth because his teeth were crowded. Interestingly enough, they had just added an oral surgeon to the practice. After a $40 co-pay visit, nothing was wrong. That was the last straw. I won't go to a corporate owned practice anymore. Our new dentist is independent and awesome!

[+ oldNbusted]

Finding a good dentist is like finding a good car mechanic, something to be treasured. I am going to cry when my dentist of the last 20 years retires.