How often should you really go to the dentist?
“Is it necessary to go to the dentist every 6 months?”. It’s a question heard inside and outside of the dental clinic.
And it’s understandable! Most people may feel their routine dental check up once a year is enough.
Nearly 1 in 3 Australians even miss seeing a dentist every 12 months, according to The Patient Experience Survey 2022–23 (ABS 2023).
But why do dentists see you every 6 months?
There’s a very good reason. A dental cavity can develop in a few short months – especially with young children.
In this article – you’ll find out which Australians are most in need of a 6 month check up, and how dentists can save your teeth, provide “smile care” – and save you money.
Missed your check up? Not visited a dentist for more than a year?
You need to book a visit to a dentist near you without delay!
Why a 6 month dental check up in Australia could be a life changer!
Both children and adults can all too easily lose a tooth to advanced dental decay if not treated early enough.
- 149,000 tooth extractions were performed in 2022-23 – the most common dental procedure in Australia*
Failing to attend a regular check up can also lead to further serious consequences.
- 87,400 hospitalisations for dental conditions could potentially have been prevented with earlier treatment*
*(Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – AIHW).
How fast dental decay spreads inside your tooth
There’s no fixed timeline. How fast dental decay spreads to the inner layers of your tooth will depend upon:
- How often your teeth are exposed to acid levels, and
- How much acid remains in the mouth
- Health and resilience of tooth enamel
The answers to the above questions are, in turn, directly influenced by:
- Daily eating habits – such as consuming sugary foods and drinks
- Oral hygiene – infrequent or inadequate brushing and flossing
- Aging – development of “dry mouth” in adults*
*What’s dry mouth and why does it cause tooth decay?
Dry mouth is caused when your salivary glands are unable to make enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. The condition often accompanies ageing.
Apart from making eating and swallowing difficult, dry mouth also increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
This is because the lack of saliva:
- Prevents the washing away of food particles, and
- Causes acids produced by bacteria to form plaque
- Makes it easier for plaque to stick to teeth
Saliva also contains proteins and minerals that help protect tooth enamel.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
The onset of dry mouth in adults can see new cavities starting to form within as littleas 3 months.
6 reasons for the 6 monthly checkup
Dentists and dental practitioners will recommend the 6 monthly check up as an all-important part of maintaining a high level of dental health and oral hygiene.
Here are the top 6 reasons:
1. Removes plaque build up
“One in five Australians brush their teeth just once a day, and rarely or never floss” – Australian Dental Association, August 2023.
Infrequent or irregular brushing is one of the major causes of causes of plaque. The build-up of harmful bacteria sticks to the teeth, which leads to:
- Teeth discolouration
- Hardening into tartar
- Tooth decay, and
- Dental cavities
2. Prevents tooth decay
Tooth decay is the gradual penetration and destruction of a tooth, layer by layer over a period of time. Its progress can develop around every six months. If left untreated, advance of the decay will cause constant pain, dental cavities and eventually spread to inflame the gums.
3. Stops gum disease
Gum disease – or periodontal disease – causes gums to redden, swell up and bleed. If left untreated, gum disease can spread to the jaw bone making it painful to eat or even drink.
Spotting the first signs of gum disease is crucial for a dentist to prevent further serious damage.
4. Clean teeth and “smile care”
Daily brushing routines, no matter how thorough, still need the attention of a professional dental teeth clean, at least every 6 months.
Treatments such as teeth cleaning, and teeth whitening involve the intensive “descaling” of hardened plaque that a regular tooth brush cannot fully achieve.
Increasingly referred to as “smile care”, the effect of a frequent dental teeth clean can definitely give your smile a confidence boost.
5. Check and improve your oral hygiene
At a regular dental check up your dentist or dental practitioner will not only check your dental health. They will also advise and guide on your oral hygiene, usually,
- Your daily brushing and flossing routines, and
- Consumption of sugary foods and drinks
The check up will identify any teeth not being cleaned properly – perhaps those teeth at the back of the mouth, or rear surfaces of the teeth. You can also find out the best method of flossing between your teeth.
Early detection of a tooth problem is often not possible by visual inspection alone. You may not experience any symptoms of tooth decay at an early stage.
Sometimes a dentist will take an x-ray of teeth and gums to be certain that any early sign of tooth decay is not missed.
6. Save you money on future dental treatment
The check up is intended to ensure you’re taking care of your teeth correctly, and in the best way possible.
Detecting the early signs of teeth problems could save you significantly more money by preventing tooth decay from progressing. And later needing intensive and costly dental treatment, such as tooth extraction, root canal, or even full mouth reconstruction.
Summary
In 2023, undetected tooth decay was responsible for around 0.55 per cent of Australians (149,000) losing their teeth.
Which could have been avoided if they had visited a dentist for a check up every 6 months or at least once a year.
How fast dental decay spreads is not fixed but can take as little as 3-6 months.
Key factors include how much sugary food and drink you consume every day, and how frequent and thorough your brushing and flossing technique.
Neglected teeth can be saved but it may require intensive and costly treatment.
A frequent visit for a dental check up monitors your ongoing dental health, provides “smile care” teeth cleaning and identifies potential problems.
At the same time you can receive valuable advice on how to take the correct daily care of your teeth.
FAQs
Q: Which states in Australia have the highest and lowest dental problems?
A: Of the 87,400 hospitalisations for dental conditions across Australia in 2022-23 that potentially could have been prevented with earlier treatment –
State with the highest number is:
- South Australia (4.4 per 1,000 population)
State with the lowest number is:
- Victoria (2.8 per 1,000 population)
(Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – AIHW)
Q: How late is too late to fix a cavity?
A: The earlier you can detect and prevent tooth decay the more likely a cavity can be cleaned and filled. However, once decay has reached the inner soft tissue (pulp) layer of the tooth, you are likely to need root canal treatment or an entire extraction.
Q: Can neglected teeth be saved?
A: A professional dentist can offer a number of treatments to save neglected teeth. The extent of decay will be carefully examined and the damage caused to the tooth structure. Treatments can start from a simple filling, overlays and dental crowns to more intensive work such as root canal, extractions, dental implants, and full mouth reconstruction.