It’s a commonly-held belief that general dental check-ups should be performed every six months or every year. In reality, the regularity of your dental check-ups should depend on the condition of your oral health and comply with your dentist’s direction. On paper, you should visit the dentist every three months to every two years: depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are. 

Why Do I Need A General Check-Up? 

A general check-up, referred to as a scale and clean, allows your local dentist to evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums and identify any problems with your oral health. Leaving dental problems unattended to can lead to future problems. A regular scale and clean provides you with the opportunity to get your oral health checked and thereby identify any small problems before they become larger. 

What Happens During A Scale and Clean? 

At each appointment, your dentist should: 

• Examine your teeth, gums and mouth, 
• Remove plaque from hard to reach areas of your mouth, 
• Ask about your general health and any problems you’ve had with your teeth, mouth or gums since your last visit, 
• Ask about and give you advice on your diet, smoking and alcohol use as well as teeth cleaning habits, 
• Discuss a date for your next visit. 

In addition to this, your dentist will also identify any concerns with your oral health and make recommendations for further treatment if needed. 

How Often Should I See A Dentist? 

After your scale and clean procedure is complete, your dentist will recommend scheduling another appointment at a certain time. The duration between check-ups can, as said, vary from three months to two years. In practice, the lower your risk of oral health problems, the longer you can wait before your next check-up. So, people with good oral health will probably only need a general appointment every year or every two years, whereas people with problematic oral health may require a check-up every three to six months – until their oral health condition stabilises. 

What About Other Dental Treatments? 

The information contained in this blog post only pertains to general check-ups (scale and cleans). Other dental treatments may require additional consultations depending on the nature of treatment. If you experience problematic oral health symptoms in between general appointments, it’s best to contact your local family dentist and book an appointment to make sure you are caring for your mouth, teeth and gums properly. 

Visit Our Clinic Today   

Do the best thing for you and call us at Ballan Family Dental today to schedule an appointment for a regular scale and clean. We can be contacted by calling 03 4310 3811 or by using the 24/7 booking form on our homepage. We look forward to meeting and treating your teeth soon.