How often should I go to the dentist?

Two dental visits a year are recommended for most patients. In a typical check-up, patients are seen by both a hygienist and a dentist. The hygienist cleans and polishes your teeth, talks to you about caring for your teeth, and answers your questions. The dentist reviews the cleaning done by the hygienist, conducts an oral exam of your gums and teeth, diagnoses any oral health problems, orders X-rays (if appropriate) and makes treatment recommendations. Check-ups are essential not only for cleaning but to find any issues early.

Why are twice-a-year appointments necessary?

It’s essential to see your dentist twice a year.

So that your dentist can check for problems you might not see or feel, allow your dentist to find early signs of decay (decay doesn’t become visible or cause pain until it reaches more advanced stages).
To treat any other oral health problems found. Generally, the earlier a problem is found, the more manageable it is.