[aleksandrh]

> The business of dentistry is unfortunately antithetical to conservative treatment, which is almost always in the interest of the patient, because it results in significantly lower patient lifetime value.

Isn't this the case with other healthcare providers too, and not necessarily just dentists? For example, physicians will regularly make you wait at least 15 minutes—even in an empty office—so they can bill insurance for that extra time. They'll bill patients for "emotional/grief counseling" and lots of other unrelated charge codes as well. I've seen from firsthand experience how doctors will exploit patients and try to milk as much money as they can from them, rather than prioritizing their wellbeing and health.

[dentalthrowaway]

Yes, principal-agent problems in healthcare are pervasive.

But while medical upcoding fleeces patients, providers often feel it victimless because the procedures are almost always diagnostic and confused providers believe them to be paid by some third party (insurance, the state, but surely not the patient).

Dentists, in contrast, don't just upcode diagnostics, they systematically over treat their patients.