37 Views Are dentists pushing unnecessary fillings? posted by | Tuesday, October 6, 2020 Category: Clinics & Medical Centers There is an apparent trend happening in the world of dentistry: more fillings. Patients say their dentists’ are finding more cavities these days than they ever did before. So, what’s going on? Finding more problemsAccording to an article in the New York Times, increasingly sophisticated detection tools are causing more dentists to find and fill problem areas that may or may not develop into cavities. While some dentists claim the technology is in the best interests of the patient, critics say the procedures are unnecessary and painful, and are driving up the costs of care. “A better approach is watchful waiting,” said Dr. James Bader, a research professor at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. “Examine it again in six months.” Big money in fillingsEvery cavity requires a painkiller, drilling and filling. Such operations typically cost $88 to $350 per filling, according to a 2007 survey in the magazine Dental Economics. According to the American Dental Association, about 175 million filling operations are performed Details
