More than 50 years ago, examinations of people entering the military showed
that Americans’ teeth were in pretty bad shape. Few people took good care of
their teeth. There were no guidelines for how often you should see a dentist.
Many dentists focused on fixing problems rather than preventing them.
Dental and health organizations decided there was a need to set standards for
preventive dentistry. They didn’t have much evidence, so they made a “best
guess” recommendation. They said people should go to the dentist twice a
year for checkups and cleaning because cavities and gum disease are
preventable. Some say the first use of the twice-a-year advice actually came
from Pepsodent toothpaste ads. Whatever the origins, this has proven to be a useful rule of thumb for many
people. But scheduling dental visits really should be based upon each
person’s oral hygiene, habits and medical conditions. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums at home, you still need
to see a dentist regularly. Your dentist can check for problems that you may
not see or feel. Many dental problems don’t become visible or cause pain until
they are in more advanced stages. Examples include cavities, gum disease
and oral cancer. Regular visits allow your dentist to find early signs of
disease. Problems can be treated at a manageable stage. On average, seeing a dentist twice a year works well for many people. Some
can get away with fewer visits. Others may need more frequent visits. People with very little risk of cavities or gum disease can do fine seeing their dentist
just once a year. People with a high risk of dental disease might need to visit
every three or four months, or more. This high-risk group includes:  Smokers  Pregnant women  Diabetics  People with current gum disease  People with a weak immune response to bacterial infection  People who tend to get cavities or build up plaque