How Frequently Do You Need to See Your Dentist?

1. How frequently do I need to go to a dentist?

2. Can the gap be longer or shorter?

3. What if I go once every 5 years?

4. What if I get a cleaning done every month?

The answer is simple. You should go to the dentist at least once every 6 months, even if you have the healthiest possible mouth because:

a) If you go to the dentist every six months, it is most likely that if there is a cavity, it will get detected at an early stage and get treated by placing a filling. Therefore, you can avoid root canal treatment or extraction.

b) No matter how much you try, you cannot get rid of the bad germs from growing into the hard to reach areas. It is also hard to prevent the tartar build up altogether. You will have to get that removed or eliminated by getting the cleaning done. That will prevent the initiation of Periodontal Disease. If you have periodontal disease, you may have to go every 3 or 4 months for periodic check up and cleaning. Usually the periodontists and the hygienists evaluate you on a case basis and make that call.

On the other hand, getting a professional cleaning done every month is unnecessary. First of all, you may not have enough build up to be cleaned, provided you have good oral hygiene. Secondly, when you get the professional cleaning done, the tissue attachment (gingival area) gets injured. You need to allow adequate time for proper healing. Too vigorous and frequent instrumentation may result in loss of tissue attachment (gingival recession).

Note:
Most of the dental insurance does not provide coverage for regular dental cleaning for more than twice a year. The deep (periodontal) cleaning may be covered three times a year. The other times you will have to pay out of pocket.