How often should you have a dental check up?

[Smashie]

My dentist always calls me in for a check up after six months. I think that this is too soon and I have read that check ups need only be done every two years. What is your view?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Smashie,

Thank you for your post. Most adults and children should see there dentist once every six months for a check-up and regular cleaning. People who are at a greater risk for oral diseases should have dental check ups more than twice a year. Your dentist will take into consideration a number of factors when deciding how often you need a checkup. These include the level of oral hygiene, presence of gum disease and dietary/social habits. The NICE dental recall clinical guideline helps your dentist determine recall intervals between check-ups that are appropriate to your individual needs.