The short answer to the question “How often should you go to the dentist? is, for most people, at least once a year, as recommended by the CDC. The average person should have two cleanings a year, one every six months. However, 42% of Americans said they don't go to the dentist as often as they would like, at least once a year. 85% of Americans consider oral health to be “very” or “extremely” important to their health. However, just under a quarter of adults say they won't visit the dentist for standard cleanings or aren't sure about doing so next year.
This number increases if considerations related to cost, time and perceived health are included. The recommendation for most people is to visit the dentist for an exam and cleaning twice a year. However, most people with a low risk of oral diseases may visit the dentist less often, while others may need to go more often. However, since care is associated with better health and makes people less likely to suffer acute symptoms and receive emergency treatment,6 what is the optimal interval between each care? Six months are customary in Britain, but why not twice a week, once a year or even once every ten years? To decide whether people should be recommended to undergo biannual dental exams, we must analyze the rates of disease progression and the ability of dentists to identify, stop or treat the disease. A review conducted in 1995 examined eight sets of longitudinal data and concluded that 38% of early carious lesions would pass to the dentine of a tooth (the point at which decay is irreversible) within three years, while 46% of lesions that had already reached the inner enamel of a tooth would pass to the dentine within three years.
It is often said that you have to go to the dentist twice a year. When in doubt, this is a good rule of thumb to follow. But if you want to be sure how often you need a dental checkup, you need to consider your unique mouth, hygiene, habits, and general well-being. When evaluating your risk of dental disease, you should consider all of the personal health, lifestyle and genetic factors that contribute to your level of risk.
Studies show that people who drink alcohol have a rate of permanent tooth loss three times the national average in the United States, and tobacco use is linked to common oral diseases. How quickly stains and plaque form on teeth also varies from person to person, and some people may benefit from more frequent cleaning if their teeth are more prone to staining or to build up stones.
