Dentistry is a scam

Dentists love to say that you have to go twice a year. Your dentist probably tells you that already. A quick Google search shows heaps of dentist claiming the same, whether you’re in Townsville, Perth, Sydney or Hobart.

And there’s no evidence it’s necessary at all.

But if everyone’s claiming it, it must be true, right?

It’s not even clear where the six-month figure comes from. Some believe it dates back to the 18th Century, long before the advent of randomised controlled trials that could test its benefits.

Back in 1977 Aubrey Sheiham, a professor of dental public health at University College London, published a paper in The Lancet bemoaning the lack of evidence for six monthly check-ups. Almost 40 years on, he’s still making the same point.

Bodies like Nice, which provides guidance for the National Health Service in England and Wales, say that the frequency of dental visits all depends on the individual. They recommend that children go at least once a year because their teeth can decay faster, while adults without problems can wait as long as two years. They even go as far as to say that longer than two years is OK for people who have shown commitment to caring for their teeth and gums. 

Okay, so you shouldn’t be going every six months, but why is everyone saying we should?

Why nobody should put dental anywhere near Medicare, right now

Australia has over 16,000 registered dental practitioners serving a population hungry for pearly whites.

Dentists are a for-profit healthcare provider that makes money from offering you treatments. They have cost pressures as well, and they exist to make money (they are businesses, after all), so they have incentives to see you as often as possible.

This would ordinarily be a honey pot for regulation to oversee the industry. People don’t tend to like going to the dentist, and dentists know that, so they know the price they quote you for any treatment is likely to be the only quote you receive. Who wants to shop around, when shopping around means having to go to the dentist more often?

But the regulation of dentistry in Australia is surprisingly lax. Unlike other healthcare professions, dentists are not subject to the same level of scrutiny and oversight. This lack of regulation has allowed some unsavory practices to flourish, particularly in the realm of over-prescribing treatments.

The problem is compounded by the fact that most dental clinics in Australia are for-profit businesses. They have a financial incentive to recommend more frequent check-ups and treatments, even when they may not be necessary. And because patients are often reluctant to seek a second opinion, they are vulnerable to being overcharged or given unnecessary procedures.

The consequences of this under-regulation are significant. Patients are being exposed to unnecessary risks and costs, and the public’s trust in the dental profession is being eroded. It’s a situation that demands urgent attention from policymakers.

Before we even consider including dentistry in Medicare, we need to address these fundamental issues. We need stronger oversight of dental clinics, with clear guidelines around appropriate treatment and billing practices. We need to crack down on over-prescribing and ensure that dentists who engage in these practices face meaningful consequences.

Only once we have cleaned up the industry and restored public trust can we start to think about expanding access to dental care through Medicare. Until then, we are simply throwing good money after bad.

It’s time for Australia to take a hard look at the state of our dental industry. We need to ask tough questions about why we have allowed this situation to persist for so long, and what we can do to fix it. The oral health of our nation depends on it.