Elizabeth86 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I realize the importance of them, but do you get them every time you go to the dentist? We have 5 people in our family and no dental insurance. So, I was thinking of telling the dentist up front we are just not going to do xrays every 6 months. Also, I was thinking our heads really shouldnt be xrayed this much. Anyone else decline the xrays? Does it go over well or are you pressured to get them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 If you don't have dental insurance, I would encourage you to find a dental school nearby for your exams. We have a dental hygientist school at our local comm college which does a slow, but thorough low-cost exam which is overseen by a licensed dentist. They only encourage Xrays every other year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 We've always had excellent dental insurance that pays one hundred percent for twice a year visits (cleanings). None of us have ever had x-rays done more than once a year. We've never had a dentist who wanted to do them more often than that unless there was a specific issue that required them, like needing a root canal or having wisdom teeth extracted. But for regular dental care/cleanings I believe the standard is once a year. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 If you don't have dental insurance, I would encourage you to find a dental school nearby for your exams. We have a dental hygientist school at our local comm college which does a slow, but thorough low-cost exam which is overseen by a licensed dentist. They only encourage Xrays every other year. This is an excellent idea! I found one an hour away. This would be excellent for me and dh. I'm not sure it would be ideal for my 5, 4 and 1 yr old as it said the students may move slow since they are still learning. Thanks for the idea! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Gosh, we never have xrays that often. I'd decline as well. You might even want to call around and ask how often their office does xrays. Maybe there is something fishy about your office? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 If you google, you will find that every six months is only recommended for patients with very high rates of cavities (new ones pretty much every appointment.) Other patients can go a year or more just fine. If you family is not cavity prone, I would find another dentist who x-rays at appropriate intervals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Our dentists do not do them every 6 months. Once a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 You can research recommendations but I think X-rays are only recommended every 2-3 years unless there are problems (like a suspected cavity). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommyLiberty5013 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Yes! Once per year here too. And I always get the lead vest thing for kiddos and me over our bodies. I've had one hygienist ask me why. I asked her why she left the room to take the X-ray if it is no big deal. Always cover up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenKitty Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 We have and do decline x-rays that often. It's more like 3 or more years between. Sometimes they make a bit of a fuss asking 'why' and telling me about the importance...again... Though I have no problem declining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 If you don't have dental insurance, I would encourage you to find a dental school nearby for your exams. We have a dental hygientist school at our local comm college which does a slow, but thorough low-cost exam which is overseen by a licensed dentist. They only encourage Xrays every other year. Yes! I calculated for our family of 5 to all get xrays and cleaning the total will be $120. I could hug you right now! I never would have thought of this on my own. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Definitely not every six months! Insurance won't even pay for them that often. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I'm pretty sure our dentist does x-rays once a year. The other 6 month visit, no x-rays. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I've never been to a dentist that does x-rays every 6 months. I've always had dental insurance, though, and they've only ever covered routine x-rays once a year. I'd suspect your dentist is trying to take advantage of the fact that you don't have dental insurance to get you to pay for x-rays way more often than necessary. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 (edited) Our office does them only once a year. I don't think our insurance would pay for them every 6 months. I do not even think it is necessary to get them even once a year when no symptoms are present. I'd be suspicious they want to rip you off because you are self pay. Ever 6 months seems excessive. Edited July 2, 2017 by regentrude 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Our X-rays are once a year. And catching a tooth that could be a problem with an X-ray is way cheaper than fixing a bad tooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 Sorry guys, I may be wrong about them wanting xrays every six months now I think about it. I actually dont go due to the cost, but I take the kids. The oldest kid is 5 and they try every six months, but they havent been able to get one because they cant hold the thing in their mouths. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 So you think it's more "shoot, we don't have this on our records, let's try again"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjand6more Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Dental radiographs are recommended 1x/year unless there is suspected decay process or high rate of decay-then every 6 months. Our office is very conservative. Our dentist is upfront about how important xrays are to diagnose decay/other problems. He will not see a patient for a cleaning/appointment if xrays are refused. If you won't agree to xrays, he won't do a limited exam. But, if you are a patient who comes every 6 months, has always had xrays yearly, have not had a problem in a couple years, he will still do an exam/cleaning and allow you to skip xrays do to finances or whatever. Why would you want to pay for a limited exam anyway? A note about dental hygiene schools: There is a big time commitment. Just to put that out there. Like 4-8 hours per appt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 Dental radiographs are recommended 1x/year unless there is suspected decay process or high rate of decay-then every 6 months. Our office is very conservative. Our dentist is upfront about how important xrays are to diagnose decay/other problems. He will not see a patient for a cleaning/appointment if xrays are refused. If you won't agree to xrays, he won't do a limited exam. But, if you are a patient who comes every 6 months, has always had xrays yearly, have not had a problem in a couple years, he will still do an exam/cleaning and allow you to skip xrays do to finances or whatever. Why would you want to pay for a limited exam anyway? A note about dental hygiene schools: There is a big time commitment. Just to put that out there. Like 4-8 hours per appt. omg that is a huge time commitment. How do they ever get children to sit this long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Sorry guys, I may be wrong about them wanting xrays every six months now I think about it. I actually dont go due to the cost, but I take the kids. The oldest kid is 5 and they try every six months, but they havent been able to get one because they cant hold the thing in their mouths. So you think it's more "shoot, we don't have this on our records, let's try again"? This is what it was with dd. They weren't able to get xrays for years but they'd try every time she came in. Normally they only do the xrays once per year. And our dental practice puts the lead vest on you every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 This is what it was with dd. They weren't able to get xrays for years but they'd try every time she came in. Normally they only do the xrays once per year. And our dental practice puts the lead vest on you every time. ...also ask for the thyroid collar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 ...also ask for the thyroid collar. The "vest" goes all the way up to the chin. It's actually more like a blanket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexi Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 We only do them every other year unless a problem is suspected. We try to limit the number of x-rays that we have. And my dentist is fine with that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 I have lived in Colombia for 22 years. None of the Dentist's I have been to have X-ray equipment. If they need x-rays they send patients to a place that only does dental x-rays. Every 6 months sounds very excessive to me Sent from my SM-G355M using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevergiveup Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 Damage from radiation is cumulative. According to a 2016 article in the NY times, the American Dental Association says that an adult with no problems can go 2-3 years between xrays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 Our family doctor told me years ago that he was very cautious about having dental x-rays done because of the cumulative radiation. He recommended having them done as infrequently as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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