How Often Do You Need to Go to the Dentist?

It doesn’t matter if you’re seven-years-old or 70, the recommendation is the same—you need to go to the dentist every six months for optimal oral health. Your dental visits are about much more than your teeth because your oral health is closely linked to your overall well-being. Taking care of your smile is just one of the many ways you should be taking care of yourself.

Dental Cleanings

You might brush your teeth diligently, but you’re still likely to leave plaque and food particles behind. As plaque builds, it accumulates on your teeth, and hardens into a substance called tartar. Unlike plaque, tartar cannot be removed by brushing—it can only be removed by professional dental cleaning. If it is not removed, it’s bad news for your oral health because tartar can harbor the bacteria that causes gum disease and tooth decay.

Getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist’s office every six months gives you a chance to stop any potential dental problems before they start. The process involves scaling your teeth to remove all of the plaque and tartar that has built up since your last appointment. We then use a specialized sodium bi-carbonate spray to neutralize plaque acids and then a high-speed electric toothbrush to polish your teeth. These last 2 stages remove stains on the enamel and creates a smooth surface where it is harder for plaque to collect.

Comprehensive Oral Evaluations

In addition to dental cleanings, your biannual appointments will include a comprehensive oral evaluation, which is just as critical to your oral health as having your teeth cleaned. Teeth cleaning might give you the chance to prevent gum disease and tooth decay from starting, but it’s your regular dental exams that allow us to identify disease in its earliest stages, when it’s easier, less expensive, and less time-consuming to treat.

Your family dentist will examine each of your teeth for signs of decay and look at your dental restorations to ensure that they are still intact. A tool is used to measure the depth of the pockets between your gums and your teeth to check for periodontal disease. At least once a year, we will take digital x-rays so we can have a better look at your teeth below the gum line and evaluate your jawbone health.

Another part of your routine dental evaluation is an oral cancer screening. Dentists play an important role in diagnosing cancers of the tongue, mouth, and throat, as they are often mistaken for benign lesions and canker sores by patients.

When You Might Need to See the Dentist More Frequently

Seeing the dentist every six months is sufficient for most patients. It allows us to keep your teeth clean and closely monitor your oral health. In some cases, more frequent visits may be needed.

If you have gum disease, you may require a periodontal maintenance program that involves visits every three months to keep your teeth free of plaque and tartar. Children who are particularly prone to cavities may be asked to visit more regularly for fluoride treatments between their biannual appointments. If you’re undergoing Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to come to our office every four to six weeks so we can keep an eye on your progress and make sure your teeth are moving as they should.