Do I need to see the dentist every 6 months? (The answer may surprise you!)
‘How often should I see the dentist’ is a question that we commonly get asked. The answer is… it depends. We now know that the old mantra of seeing the dentist every 6 months isn’t necessarily true for everyone. These days, rather than having a blanket ‘one size fits all’ approach, we subscribe to the idea of personalised medicine. This concept as it applies to dentistry means that your individual health and risk factors are considered before designing a treatment approach for you.
What can determine my "Dental Needs?"
The decision of how frequently to return to the dentist is a shared decision between the dentist and the patient. The dentist will usually be considering how long it would take for a condition to go from minor, to severe, bearing in mind the individual circumstances of each patient. Some common factors that impact on this decision are your general health, your home care strategies, and your dental history.
High Risk
Some of our patients need to see us very frequently, sometimes every few months. These tend to be patients with particular medical conditions that prevent them from cleaning well, a dry mouth (which increases the risk of decay) or progressive gum disease (which often has a strong genetic component). In these patients, oral health problems can go from minor to severe within a matter of months. For this reason, we make sure we see them at short intervals to catch any problems as early as possible and put into place preventative measures to stop issues from arising.
High risk of dental decay can be related to:
Frequent or prolonged exposure to sugary foods and drinks
Recent decay including for other family members (siblings or caregivers)
Teeth missing due to recent decay
Severe dry mouth (xerostomia)
Special needs or medical conditions
Chemo/radiation therapy
Most patients we see are not in this high-risk category. They may have a history of needing fillings, and do a reasonable job cleaning, but accumulate tartar, which can’t be removed at home with a toothbrush. They may have some dietary or health associated risk factors. For these patients, a 6-monthly visit is likely to be appropriate.
Low Risk
Then we have patients who are considered low risk. They are diligent with their home care, have a healthy diet and lifestyle, and no recent decay. For many patients like this, a 12-monthly check may be all that is needed.
Low risk of dental decay can be due to:
Only exposing the teeth to sugary foods or drinks at main meal times
No recent decay
Regular dental care
Fluoride exposure (through drinking water, professional application, toothpaste)
But what if nothing is hurting?
Some patients chose to come less frequently to the dentist or may present only when something has gone wrong. This is a personal decision and the choice of the patient will always be respected. It is important to note though, that teeth don’t always hurt when things are going wrong. Sometimes a condition can be quite severe, resulting in more involved treatment or loss of the tooth if it has been left a long time.
Factors that increase the risk of dental decay include:
Eating disorders
Medications that reduce saliva flow
Drug/alcohol abuse
Visible plaque
Unusual tooth shape or alignment that makes access difficult
Previous fillings (especially between the teeth)
Exposed root surfaces
Dentures or orthodontic appliances
For this reason, we recommend not waiting until there are signs and symptoms, but rather putting in place a plan for your dental visits based on you and your individual needs.
As you can see, there is no longer a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The best medicine is now based on individualised care, and this is something that you can expect from your Ethical Dental dentist.
If you would like to discuss your oral health needs book a consultation with Dr Kate Amos or Dr Sam Rosehill at Ethical Dental on 6652 3185 or book online.
