Ever wondered how often you must visit your dentist? It's not always the same for everyone and would depend on individual circumstances and certain risk factors.

At times, dentists may recommend visiting for check-ups and cleanings every six months, while others may only recommend for annual appointments. If the patient suffers from any progressive dental health disorder, the dentist may prescribe for more frequent visits. 

What does evidence suggest?

Dentists generally advise patients to revisit for check-ups in a period of every six months. This is usually because a timeframe of six months seems to be the best time to detect the chances of any possible dental health problems. 

Although dental professionals suggest this, the recall period for dental visits would be based on individual patient needs.

Why do dentists recommend regular dental check-ups?

Regular dental visits are essential as it gives your dentist the chance to detect signs of oral problems such as tooth decay, oral cancer, or gum disease. 

In case the dentist detects a potential oral problem, he/she would discuss treatment options with you. This allows you to reduce risks of dental issues, and thereby help you maintain good oral hygiene. 

Preventive hygiene procedures such as scaling and root planing would always follow a check-up. They help remove hardened plaque and prevent the chances of gum disease.

In case the dentist recommends a certain dental treatment, you may have to get a few X-rays taken. This would allow the dentist to view areas of your teeth and below the gum line that'd help them diagnose problems that are not visible to the naked eyes. Both the patient and the doctor gets to be more prepared for treatment methods that can help alter the patient’s dental condition. 

So, how often should I visit the dentist?

Your dentist would be the best person to determine the right time interval between your hygiene visits. As the patient's dental condition may be susceptible to change throughout treatment, the dentist would be able to recommend the correct recall period. If you haven't paid a visit to the dentist in the last 9-12 months, we advise visiting your Sun-Park Dental dentist for a complete oral health assessment and teeth cleaning.

Call us 916-435-1155 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Nguyen for a consultation at our office in Rocklin, CA.