Dentist....is this weird or normal?

[starryfish]

I just had my 2nd 6 month visit for this year at a new place and the dentist did not look at my teeth at all, just a regular cleaning with the hygienist. I always go 2x a year at various places over the years (due to moves, etc) and have never NOT seen the dentist.

[raangoli]

That seems weird to me. At every practice I've been to, the dentist will come in after the cleaning (if they didn't do it themselves) to check up on things.

[starryfish]

Dec 8, 2014 17:01:12 GMT -5 raangoli said:

That seems weird to me. At every practice I've been to, the dentist will come in after the cleaning (if they didn't do it themselves) to check up on things.

Same here!!!! I don't think I'm going to go back to them. I asked the hygienist why and she said she only sees you if you had X-rays (which I had at my prior appt). I had switched to this dentist bc my old one (of 3 years) said I had 6 cavities out of nowhere when they hired a new dentist, which turns out I had zero cavities! Ugh...going to have to look for a new dentist again! :-(

[raangoli]

starryfish - I feel you. I switched practices this year after a move and I got duped (I strongly believe this) into changing out older fillings for newer ones. That's fine I suppose, except that one was deep and my tooth became inflamed and I ended up needing a root canal to the tune of $4k (the root canal and subsequent crown).

I hope you can ask around to find a new/different practice.

[oreos]

Normal for me. I go twice per year. One visit is exam and cleaning (which are booked as separate appointments) and the 2nd is just cleaning.

[starryfish]

Dec 8, 2014 17:07:21 GMT -5 raangoli said:

starryfish - I feel you. I switched practices this year after a move and I got duped (I strongly believe this) into changing out older fillings for newer ones. That's fine I suppose, except that one was deep and my tooth became inflamed and I ended up needing a root canal to the tune of $4k (the root canal and subsequent crown).

I hope you can ask around to find a new/different practice.

Thanks, it was crazy, 6 fillings was $1200!!!! Luckily I realized they were full of it and didn't pay it.

Also, besides this, I'm not confident in this place bc they have not noticed that I'm a severe grinder, which is kinda a big miss (I have a night guard but don't wear it a lot, my old dentist whom I loved that retired, was always on me about it).

[Deleted]

My dentist operates like yours. And I go to a dental clinic associated with the major academic medical center here so I have no reason to doubt they're following the latest protocols.

[katiecj6]

Normal. I only see the dentist once a year.

I see the hygienist four times a year.

[lys]

I go twice a year - 1st appointment is cleaning with hygienist and exam by Dentist.
6 months later - cleaning with hygienist only.
Over all my dental health is excellent with only a couple of cavities over my lifetime. I do have a fixed bridge due to an accident.

[spunkarella]

I see the dentist very briefly every time.

[Susie]

Dec 8, 2014 17:34:40 GMT -5 spunkarella said:

I see the dentist very briefly every time.

Me too.  Usually he pops in whenever he has a free moment (sometimes at the beginning or after the actual cleaning), but occasionally he has actually done the cleaning, I guess because he happened to have a cancellation or some free time or something.  I've never gone in and not had him at least take a quick look.

[flygirl22]

I have a dental exam + cleaning once per year, the other is just a cleaning, no dentist review.

[mich1]

Dentists do more than just check teeth, they look for unusual growths or spots that could signify a problem on your lips, gingiva and tongue.

Ie worked in a dental school and gone to the dental school's clinic for the as long as I worked in dental research. I have never NOT seen a dentist at each cleaning, despite having very few problems. If I didn't see a dentist, I'd be concerned.

Hopefully, said hygienist also did a perio exam too. That should also be included with every tooth cleaning.

[starryfish]

Dec 8, 2014 17:48:25 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Dentists do more than just check teeth, they look for unusual growths or spots that could signify a problem on your lips, gingiva and tongue.

Ie worked in a dental school and gone to the dental school's clinic for the as long as I worked in dental research. I have never NOT seen a dentist at each cleaning, despite having very few problems. If I didn't see a dentist, I'd be concerned.

Hopefully, said hygienist also did a perio exam too. That should also be included with every tooth cleaning.

Is the perio exam where they inspect your gums and number them? She did that last time but not today

[mich1]

Dec 8, 2014 18:15:58 GMT -5 starryfish said:

Dec 8, 2014 17:48:25 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Dentists do more than just check teeth, they look for unusual growths or spots that could signify a problem on your lips, gingiva and tongue.

Ie worked in a dental school and gone to the dental school's clinic for the as long as I worked in dental research. I have never NOT seen a dentist at each cleaning, despite having very few problems. If I didn't see a dentist, I'd be concerned.

Hopefully, said hygienist also did a perio exam too. That should also be included with every tooth cleaning.

Is the perio exam where they inspect your gums and number them? She did that last time but not today

Yep, they take a probe and measure the size of the pockets around your teeth.  She should be charting numbers less than 3 and anything larger means that you might have issues.  It should be done at least yearly, but I've always had it done every 6 months. 

[readyin07]

Normal. I I only see the dentist once a year.
I think that is all my insurance allows. My "old" dentist (last of the old time family dentists who retired) came in every time. I think he just didnt charge me for that

[sarahbear]

Normal. My dentist sees me once a year on the visit I get my x ray.

[whitemerlot]

My dentist always sees me.

[rosiedozie]

They always pop in and look around for a minute or two. Nothing major, but I always see them.

[h]

Dec 8, 2014 17:48:25 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Dentists do more than just check teeth, they look for unusual growths or spots that could signify a problem on your lips, gingiva and tongue.

Ie worked in a dental school and gone to the dental school's clinic for the as long as I worked in dental research. I have never NOT seen a dentist at each cleaning, despite having very few problems. If I didn't see a dentist, I'd be concerned.

Hopefully, said hygienist also did a perio exam too. That should also be included with every tooth cleaning.

My dentist's office only does the perio exam at every other cleaning (they alternate the perio exam and x-rays so you get one each time). Should I be concerned about that? The dentist comes in to check things every time, FWIW, and I generally really like the practice.

[mich1]

If there are no issues, then it's probably ok. But if you have any 4s, they should be keeping a closer eye on them than yearly.

[caramia17]

Some of this varies by state, some states (notably CO , MN, and AK) allow independent hygienist practice, but in most states a hygienist practices under the dentist's license and s/he must have a dentist check his/her work.

To PP, for adults over 35 with no other risk factors (history of perio disease, diabetes, smoking, etc.) the American Academy of periodontology (www.perio.org) recommends a comprehensive periodontal exam yearly. Periodontitis affects 47% of American adults over 30 and it doesn't hurt, so it may not be caught until it has progresses unless an exam is done.

[hbomdiggity]

Dec 8, 2014 17:21:30 GMT -5 oreos said:

Normal for me. I go twice per year. One visit is exam and cleaning (which are booked as separate appointments) and the 2nd is just cleaning.

same here.