https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/05/the-trouble-with-dentistry/586039/
I don’t have any especial antipathy toward dentists. My reaction to the article is that there are probably a few bad actors in dentistry, but I’m not convinced the fraud is that much worse than procedure-heavy medical fields. We discussed an article a year or two ago about aggressive dermatologists, and the rogue dentist in this article is still a saint compared to Farid Fata.
At the same time, the observations of the unique doctor-patient dynamic in the dentist’s chair and how it may affect power imbalance is interesting. This is the whole premise behind the horror movie The Dentist (which I happen to love). Also interesting are the accounts of the early barber dentists of the 17th century and how the profession was so stigmatized it developed independently of medicine.
Personally, I have worked with dentists I thought were too trigger happy and promptly left, and stuck with ones who show me images and recommend watching and waiting. But I never look for studies or guidelines like I would if I saw my PCP or a medical specialist for another issue. Curious to hear how you guys feel about dentists and how much you trust them when they recommend an intervention. And of course, would love for the dentists here to weigh in, especially if you have any advice for questions to ask, etc.
I don’t have any especial antipathy toward dentists. My reaction to the article is that there are probably a few bad actors in dentistry, but I’m not convinced the fraud is that much worse than procedure-heavy medical fields. We discussed an article a year or two ago about aggressive dermatologists, and the rogue dentist in this article is still a saint compared to Farid Fata.
At the same time, the observations of the unique doctor-patient dynamic in the dentist’s chair and how it may affect power imbalance is interesting. This is the whole premise behind the horror movie The Dentist (which I happen to love). Also interesting are the accounts of the early barber dentists of the 17th century and how the profession was so stigmatized it developed independently of medicine.
Personally, I have worked with dentists I thought were too trigger happy and promptly left, and stuck with ones who show me images and recommend watching and waiting. But I never look for studies or guidelines like I would if I saw my PCP or a medical specialist for another issue. Curious to hear how you guys feel about dentists and how much you trust them when they recommend an intervention. And of course, would love for the dentists here to weigh in, especially if you have any advice for questions to ask, etc.
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