Most people should see their dentist at least every six months, says Kirk Petersen, DMD, who runs Hemet West Dental Office in Hemet, California. However, people with certain underlying conditions – or bad habits – should make the trip even more often, as he explains here.
Really how often you should see your dentist depends on what your dental condition is, and also your dental history. For most people, it is once every six months. And that way we can check for cavities, oral cancer, how the gums are doing and make sure you have a healthy mouth and a great smile.
We as dentists do more than just look at teeth. Few people realize that we are also are often the first health professionals who find a patient who has high blood pressure, because often patients sees us more often than they see their physicians. We actually check their blood pressure for them as part of our general check-up routine.
History of Gum Disease
For a patient who has a history of gum disease and bone destruction around the teeth, it is often necessary to have them see us every three or possibly four months. If we wait longer, say six months, then often the gum disease will get worse. That means that they will be in a state of gum disease for most of that six-month period.
Children also should see us every six months. The reason for that is because children often up until about age 16, 18 or so are much more prone to cavities. And also it seems that the cavities in children tend to worsen faster, so it’s important to take care of that.
Older People Too
People with dentures ought to come in at least once a year to check the fitting of the dentures and also because a denture fitting can become loose and move the gums more. That friction of the denture on the gum can make the bone, which holds in the dentures, shrink more rapidly. And since most people who have dentures are older, it’s often important to check them regularly for oral cancer.
Other people who need to come more regularly are those who smoke, who chew tobacco, who are pregnant, have diabetes or any past or present history of gum disease. Coming to a dentist on a regular basis will help ensure that their teeth and gums are staying as healthy as possible, and that they are not putting themselves at risk for other diseases either.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
