How often should I visit a dentist?

Conventional wisdom advises that people see their dentists at least two times a year for a basic check-up and cleaning. During this time, your dentist will clean your teeth and do a routine exam to check on the health of the teeth and the gums. Depending on the clinic that you visit, some dentists might require routine x-rays of the mouth to get a total picture of the person’s dental health. With children, dental visits might be more frequent because of the changing development of children.

If the child has any dental work done (braces), then the child might require seeing the dentist on a routine basis for cleanings and dental examinations. Other instances when patients might see the dentist more frequently is if there is an illness or if the patient is experiencing stress. One of the reasons is that the oral cavity might be affected by other conditions in the body predisposing it to infection when we are stressed out.