You're Once... Twice... Three times a Patient: How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?
Posted on: 13 April 2015
Your dentist is probably a very nice person, and yet, you perhaps don't visit him or her as often as you should. While a lack of contact doesn't hurt your dentist's feelings, it's a bad habit to get into. The only thing that can get hurt by visits that are too infrequent are your teeth and gums, and of course, your wallet. So how often should you visit your dentist, and is it the same for everyone?
Twice per Year
Good dental service is a preventative measure. Your dentist wants to see you on a regular basis so that they can take a good look at your teeth and gums, allowing them to identify problems as early as possible. The general rule of thumb is that you should see your dentist every six months. This timeframe allows your dentist to find cavities and periodontal disease before it has a chance to do any real damage. It's easier to identify and treat a dental problem that has only been developing for a few months, as opposed to a problem that has been growing unchecked for the last five years.
The First Visit
This six month guideline is valid for both children and adults, and your child should have their first visit to the dentist's office when their very first tooth appears, and by no later than one year of age. Your dentist might ever recommend more frequent visits, depending on how your child's teeth develop. This enables the dentist to monitor teeth that might require braces or another type of corrective intervention.
Once per Year
While your dentist can generally see dental problems well before you're able to, you still know your own teeth pretty well. If you take good care of your teeth and gums and aren't prone to cavities or gum disease, you can get away with less frequent visits. Even the healthiest of teeth should get the once over by a dentist at least once a year.
Three Times per Year
If you are particularly prone to cavities (despite your best efforts), or suffer from diabetes (both type one and type two), you should consider seeing your dentist three times a year. The irregular blood glucose levels that are a part of diabetes can increase your risk of dental problems. This is due to a decreased resistance to infection, and heavy smokers should also think about visiting the dentist more often for the same reason.
While the optimum number of times you should see your dentist (like those at Revesby Dental Centre) each year can vary depending on your individual circumstances, don't let them become a stranger! The longer a problem has to develop, the harder it is to repair, and it will end up costing far more than it could have.
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