How Often Should I See My Dentist?

How often you see your dentist is a decision often made as a general rule for everyone when in fact it should be made on an individual basis. The general rule of “seeing your dentist twice a year” does work for most patients. A cavity, recession, TMJ clenching/grinding problems, and gum disease are slow developing problems. For a healthy patient with very few dental fillings, seeing your dentist twice a year should be often enough. If a problem develops, it can be caught early and be easily fixed. But not everyone is in this category. Let’s first talk about what a routine dental visit should consist of and then who may need additional help.

Every dental office does things a little different during a 6 month check-up so I will describe what we do in our office for our patients. A 6 month check-up takes about an hour. During this time my hygienist will take digital photos of your teeth. This allows me to view your teeth magnified on a computer screen. Cavities, cracks, etc can be seen much better this way as opposed to looking in your mouth with the tongue and cheeks blocking my view. Your teeth are then cleaned and polished. If the plaque on your teeth has turned to tartar it will be removed. Tartar cannot be removed with a tooth brush even with tartar control tooth paste.  Therefore, it is important for the tartar to be removed before it develops deep along the roots. A laser is then used to scan each tooth to find cavities that are too small to see. Digital x-rays are then taken to find any cavities between your teeth that cannot be found with a laser cavity detector. We will then go over all the digital photos and radiographs and talk about fixing any problems we found while they are still small and inexpensive to fix.

We can also talk about any cosmetic procedures such as whitening, that you may be interested in. So a lot of important procedures are performed during this hour for our healthy patients every six months. There are patients however that need additional help. Those that need a little extra care or attention are provided with a check-up schedule according to their individual needs.

Cavity-prone patients. Some patients, particularly children, develop cavities very rapidly. Waiting six moths may allow their cavities to progress to very large sizes. There are always reasons why patients develop cavities faster than others such as diet, immune disorders, medications, etc. Until the reason is discovered and corrected, these patients should see a dentist more often.

Periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an often painless disease that infects the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. This disease can lead to dentures if left unchecked. Patients who have periodontal disease or have had it in the past should see their dentist 3 to 4 times a year to make sure the disease is under control or has not returned.

Patients with a lot of dental restorations. Many patients have invested a great deal of their time and money to have their teeth restored. They may have crowns, fillings, implants, bridges, etc. The last thing they want is to have their dental work fail and lose their investment. Dental work can fail. If cavities and cracks developed in the past, it may occur again. There is no better dental insurance than to see your dentist and hygienist as often as needed to make sure your dental restorations are holding up.

Diabetics.  Patients who are diabetic often have a reduced immune system that can cause serious health problems that include infections of the teeth and gums. If a diabetic is becoming unstable, the first sign is often gingivitis and periodontal infections. If you have diabetes or a family history of diabetes you should consult with your dentist about increasing your frequency of check-ups.

Cancer, HIV, Transplant, etc patients. Patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or have any disease that affects their immune system should increase the frequency of their check-ups, particularly during treatment. The last thing you need while battling these illnesses is a tooth ache or dental infection that could delay your healing. Let your dentist know what treatments and medications you are taking and any changes in your treatment. Your dentist will advise you on the best way to preserve your teeth during your recovery.

Pregnancy. Pregnancy can lower your immune system as your body takes care of your baby more than yourself. So many mothers have complained about having perfect teeth until they had their babies. At least once during your pregnancy, preferably during your first trimester, you should visit your dentist for a checkup even if you have been in the past few months. Let the dental team know that you are pregnant and they can advise you of special precautions until you have your baby and how to care for your babies teeth.