Most of us grew up hearing that you should see the dentist every six months. It’s a sensible default, and for a lot of people it works well. But it was never meant to be a one-size-fits-all rule — it’s a starting point, not a law.

Why the interval varies

How often you benefit from a check-up depends on things like your gum health, how prone you are to decay, whether you grind your teeth, and your general health. Someone with healthy gums and low decay risk might comfortably stretch to twelve months. Someone managing gum disease might do better every three or four.

The point of the visit isn’t the visit itself — it’s catching small things while they’re still small and cheap to sort out. A tiny bit of decay found early is a quick fix; the same problem left for two years is a much bigger job.

How we decide together

At your check-up we look at your teeth, gums and bite, talk through anything that’s changed, and suggest an interval that suits your situation. If things are stable, we’ll happily space visits out. If something needs closer watching, we’ll say so and explain why.

If it’s been a while since your last visit, that’s completely fine — there’s no lecture waiting for you. Give us a call and we’ll find a time that works.