Do You Really Need a Dental Check-Up Every Six Months?

Where Did the Six-Month Rule Come From?

Interestingly, the six-month rule originated in the 1950s during an advertising campaign and then was institutionalised through NHS payment structures, yet there is no scientific evidence to back this up. Clinical guidelines today take a completely different view.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends dental check-ups that range from three monthly intervals to patients considered high risk, to up to twenty-four month intervals, for those with no active disease, considered low risk.

What Determines Your Dental Check-Up Frequency

In order to determine how often you need a dental check-up, your dentist will assess your risk based on a number of factors including:

• History of decay
• Overall gum health
• Oral hygiene
• Diet
• Dry mouth
• Smoking
• Medical conditions

What Happens at a Check-Up?

A comprehensive dental check-up is a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth. At EyeSmile, our dentists examine your tooth surfaces for signs of decay, along with your gum health, measuring your pocket depth. They will take any existing fillings, crowns, and bridges into consideration, while examination your tongue, cheeks, lips, and floor of the mouth for early signs of cancer.

In addition to this, they will assess your bite and jaw joint, arranging any x-rays or other imaging, based on the findings.

Why You Should Not Miss Your Dental Check-Up

A dental check-up is a proactive approach to preserving your natural teeth. The majority of dental issues are completely symptom free, until they become advanced and expensive to repair. A small cavity will cost significantly less than a root canal treatment, for example. All our dental check-ups include a thorough oral cancer screening, protecting your overall health and longevity with early diagnosis and treatment.