30 June 2026 · 4 min read
Where six months came from
It is a sensible average rather than a scientific law. Six months is short enough that most new decay is caught while it is still small, and long enough not to be a burden for low-risk patients.
You may need three-monthly visits
Smokers, patients with diabetes, anyone with a history of gum disease, patients with dry mouth from medication, and those with several new cavities in the past two years all benefit from shorter intervals.
You may safely go twelve months
If you have no fillings, no bleeding, low sugar intake and excellent home care, an annual examination may be enough. We will tell you honestly which category you are in.
The cost argument
A check-up and a small filling cost a fraction of a root canal and crown on the same tooth two years later. Prevention is the cheapest dentistry there is.