Your doc knows best -- or does he?

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oralhealth@comcast.net - 11 Mar 2009 22:37 GMT

that was the title, and subtitle: "Doctors often lack proof that one
treatment trumps another, so a new government effort seeks to help
patients choose."

This story is in today's paper, The Patriot Ledger, and they got the
story from the associated press.

The first paragraph, "Think your doctor knows which drug-- or surgery
or even diagnostic test---works best? Think again."

The second paragraph," Half the time, there's little if any good
evidence comparing one to another."

And I thought it was only periodontics that had problems, it seems
medicine has the same problem.

........David DiBenedetto, DMD....author of, "Insider's guide to gum
disease, orthodontics and dentistry. What is not taught in dental
school."

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Dartos - 19 Mar 2009 17:29 GMT

> The second paragraph," Half the time, there's little if any good
> evidence comparing one to another."
>
> And I thought it was only periodontics that had problems, it seems
> medicine has the same problem.

All health sciences have this problem.

Some old ideas are proven to be false. Some old ideas turn out to
be true. New drugs are invented. New treatments become available.
Some new ideas only *seem* to be true. Some popular treatments
fade into obscurity.

Proof beyond a shadow of a doubt on any disease, drug, therapy, etc.,
is virtually impossible and new discoveries are constantly entering
the arena.

Say what you will, but medicine and dentistry are still part art
and science. Certainly less art than 100 years ago, and certainly
more art than it will be 100 years in the future.

But right now, our science isn't good enough to completely take over.

D

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