England’s Leading Dentist Suggests We Don’t Need 6-Monthly Check-Ups
The country’s leading dentist has suggested that we don’t need to visit the dentist every six months.
Speaking at the NHS Expo conference in Manchester, Dr Sara Hurley suggested that six monthly appointments are only a guideline for those who are prone to dental issues and urged patients to challenge their dentist if they are advised to come back every six months despite having good oral health. She likened the situation to a car needing its MOT and said that people would question mechanics who recommended vehicle checks every six months.
Current guidelines recommend seeing a dentist every 6-24 months. Most patients who go to the dentist frequently visit every 6-9 months. England’s chief dental officer said that dentists should be recommending checks based on the patient’s oral health status. Those who have excellent oral health might only need to visit the dentist once a year, or even once every two years. Dr Hurley suggested that many patients assume that they need to go twice a year, but this is often not the case. NICE guidelines suggest a large timescale because everyone is different and many patients simply don’t require dental checks every six months. If you have fillings or crowns, or you have history or decay or gum disease, or active decay, frequent appointments are recommended. However, if you have strong, healthy teeth and no signs of developing issues, you may be informed that you don’t need to see a dentist for the next 9-24 months.
The message about attending check-ups less frequently will be made clear as part of a new campaign, which is set to launch next year. The Smile4Life campaign aims to educate the public about essential oral health matters and encourage them to adopt habits that will stand them in good stead for decades to come. The aim is to ensure that people know dental health is a lifelong issue.
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