How Often Should You Get a Dental Checkup?

Most people should get a dental checkup and professional cleaning every six months. That is the starting point Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS recommends for patients in Timonium. Some people need to be seen more often: if you have dental implants, cleanings every three to four months are recommended, and if you have gum disease, ongoing periodontal maintenance visits keep it under control. An oral cancer screening is recommended once a year for every patient over eighteen.

Below is how dental check-up frequency changes with your health and your dental work, the difference between a checkup and a cleaning, and what happens when the time between visits stretches too long.

Why every six months is the usual starting point

Plaque builds up on teeth every day. Brushing and flossing remove most of it, but some always stays behind in hard-to-reach spots, and over time it hardens into tartar that only professional instruments can remove. Tartar and the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums and feed tooth decay.

A six-month rhythm tends to catch these changes while they are small. A cavity found early usually needs only a filling. Gum inflammation noticed early can be treated before it becomes a deeper infection. Waiting a year or more gives small problems time to grow into bigger, more involved dental work.

Checkup or cleaning: what each part of the visit covers

People often use the two words interchangeably, but a routine visit has two jobs.

The cleaning

A professional cleaning removes the plaque and tartar that daily brushing and flossing miss. At the Timonium office, cleaning appointments last a full 60 minutes, which gives the team time to clean each tooth thoroughly and check the health of your gums instead of rushing. The practice holds very high standards and strives for zero bleeding and zero infection.

The checkup

The exam looks at more than cavities. Dr. Haywood evaluates your teeth and gums, looks at your bite for signs of TMJ problems, and reviews your health history and medications. Digital X-rays appear on screen right away, intraoral cameras zoom in on each section of your mouth, and DIAGNOdent laser detection can find decay at its earliest stages, sometimes before it shows on an X-ray. An oral cancer screening is part of the checkup. See dental technology at the practice.

Dental check-up frequency for different situations

Six months is a starting point, not a rule for everyone. Your visits may be spaced differently depending on your mouth and your health. Dr. Haywood will recommend a schedule that fits you.

Healthy teeth and gums

If your gums are healthy and you rarely have cavities, a checkup and cleaning every six months is recommended to keep it that way.

Gum disease, now or in the past

Bleeding or receding gums, bad breath and deep pockets in the gums mean infection. Gum infection that is caught early and treated as a serious infection can be managed and controlled, but it is never completely cured, which is why periodontal maintenance and regular hygiene visits matter after treatment. The hygienists keep monitoring your progress. Read about gum disease treatment.

Dental implants

Implants don’t decay, but the gums around them need extra attention because gum tissue doesn’t seal around an implant as firmly as it does around a natural tooth. Cleanings every three to four months are recommended. If you have fixed full-arch implant teeth, the practice removes them every three to four months so the teeth and implants can be cleaned thoroughly.

Diabetes and other health conditions

The health of your gums has been linked to serious health risks such as diabetes and cardiac disease. If you live with a condition like these, keep the office up to date on your health and medications, and ask whether more frequent visits make sense for you.

Dry mouth, medications and getting older

Decay rates increase with age, and medications and dry mouth can set the stage for root decay. Regular checkups help catch it early, and the practice offers calcium rebuilding treatments, rather than fluoride, to help strengthen enamel for patients of all ages.

Smoking, vaping and alcohol

Alcohol, infection, the HPV virus and smoking have all been implicated in oral cancer, and early detection matters. Regular oral cancer screenings are especially important for anyone over 40, anyone who smokes and anyone with a family history of cancer. Read how smoking and vaping affect your teeth and gums.

Pregnancy

Let the team know if you are pregnant or planning to be, so your care can be planned around it. Read oral health during pregnancy.

Children and teens

Family dentistry is part of the practice. Regular checkups are a good time to protect children’s back teeth with super sealants, which come with a lifetime warranty, and teens straightening their teeth with Invisalign Teen come in for their aligner progress as well. A parent or legal guardian must be present during the consultation of a patient under 18.

Grinding or clenching

Grinding slowly wears down and cracks enamel, often without you noticing. Regular exams can spot the wear, and comfortable, clear bite guards custom-made for you help protect your teeth.

What happens when you stretch the time between checkups

Many dental problems are quiet at first. Early decay, gum pockets and cracks often don’t hurt until they are advanced. When checkups are skipped for years, the first sign of trouble is often a toothache, and by then the treatment is usually larger than it would have been. If it has been a while, you are far from alone, and the first visit back is about finding out where you stand, not about judgment. Read been a while since you’ve visited a dentist?

How to keep regular visits on track

• Book your next visit before you leave. It is easier to move an appointment than to remember to make one.
• Complete your forms online. New patients can fill out their forms at forms.flossem.com before the first visit.
• Pick a time that works. The office is open Monday 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Tuesday 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM to 4 PM.
• Give notice if plans change. Please give at least 72 business hours’ notice to cancel.
• Tell the team if you are nervous. Laughing gas is offered as a complimentary service, and oral and IV sedation are available.

For what else a regular visit can do for you, read top 10 reasons to visit a dentist and do I need a dental cleaning if I brush and floss?

Paying for your visits

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance providers. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for whatever it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions

Is going to the dentist once a year enough?

For most people, twice a year is recommended. A professional cleaning every six months removes plaque and tartar before they can do much damage, and it keeps small problems small.

How often should I have an oral exam?

An exam is part of each routine checkup, typically every six months. The practice also recommends an oral cancer screening once a year for all patients over eighteen.

How often should I have my teeth cleaned if I have implants?

Cleanings every three to four months are recommended for patients with dental implants, because the gums don’t seal around an implant as firmly as around a natural tooth.

Do I need a checkup if nothing hurts?

Yes. Early decay and gum disease often cause no pain at all. Finding them before they hurt is the whole point of a regular checkup. See general dentistry in Timonium.

Schedule your next checkup in Timonium

If you aren’t sure when you were last seen, now is a good time to book. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Lutherville, Cockeysville, Towson and Hunt Valley. New patients are always welcome. Learn more about dental cleanings and preventive care.