Not to go to the dentist for 6 month check ups

[60andsomething]

Well, I am in my 60s now, so it is a bit late if IABU! As children we went every 6 months, but I am not sure why. It was expected back then.

In the last 40 years I have been twice, both times because of side effects of other non-dental treatments.

The dentist I saw last year, to get a clean bill of health before starting on a powerful drug, now wants me to come back, as it is 6 months since I last went, and this is seen as enough justification to try and insist I go again.

I have never had any problems with my teeth, and generally go to the dentist once every 20 years or so.

I am a teacher, when it comes up in lesson, have asked my classes about their experience of dentists - I would say most teenagers these days have never seen a dentist, and don't have toothache.

AIBU to think the need for a six month check up is a myth? And if it aint broke, don't fix it?

I would go it I had a problem, or toothache.

Well, if you are blessed with good teeth and gums, then every six months surely isn't necessary. I speak as someone who doesn't go often at all, but that's because I have a phobia, not because my teeth are wonderful!

I would stick to your guns. Pretty sure others will be along to disagree but you know your own health best.

I would say most teenagers these days have never seen a dentist, and don't have toothache.

Why would you say that?

You only need six monthly appointments if you have gum disease or something.

I think 6 month check ups are essential.

The w hole point is to prevent things happening in the first place.

Do you go to the hygienist?

My partner is a bit like you and avoids the dentist unless he has an issue. The problem is that, by not having check ups, every issue gets big enough to be a problem before it’s treated. A stitch in time saves nine.

Also worth considering the emerging evidence that gum disease reduces life expectancy.

Maybe not every six months, but every year, or two years? I had a tiny filling filled recently that I had no idea I'd had. Better that than a rotten tooth later.

Prevention is better than the cure! I have a dental check up once a year but twice yearly hygienist appointments, which is what makes the most difference.

It is a bit odd that 6 month check up are what is advised, but if you wanted 6 monthly check ups on any other part of your body where you'd previously had no health issues you'd be seen as weirdly paranoid.

I do go every 6 months though. Mainly because I don't want to end up being deregistered from my NHS dentist and not being able to get another one if I ever really needed one. I think at my surgery they de register you after a year maybe, as their waiting list is so long.

You get kicked off the NHS list at my practice if you don’t go every six months for a check up. They just upped it to once a year now.

Because I ask them! For example, the topic of identifying someone by dental records came up in a news programme in school, and in the subsequent discussion it came out that not one single person in the class had any sort of dental records - and since then I have asked occasionally, out of interest. Basically, it is just the teens that want braces that go, in the main, afaik

But I am in my 60s and nothing has ever happened - and I would go if it did.

How weird. Most people ensure children/teens go six monthly.

I would think that you teach in a deprived area then. If none of the teenagers in your class have ever seen a dentist.

But if you don't wanna go, don't go!

I was on 6 monthly, but have decided to make it yearly now, if I can. (Usually, some tooth related issue crops up before then anyway, so it's almost like twice a year.)

My kids have always been on yearly. Although as babies, they may have started on 6 monthly too.

I voted YABU because you should still be going for regular checkups. But yearly may be enough.

Well, I never did - one of mine saw an orthodontist and had braces, but apart from that, none of gone ever really -

I took one once because he had toothache. But he didnt need any treatment.

Interesting that it is more likely to be yearly these days rather than 6 monthly. Maybe as population we have better teeth now than a few decades ago

My dh is like this. Always said he never needed a dentist as would go if there was pain. Then one day that pain arrived and thankfully we managed to register him straight away (was before Covid). If that happened to him now, I doubt the dentist would agree to take him on. So just make sure you stay registered, especially if NHS!

I wonder if it's another thing which had changed post covid? I remember the receptionist calling to cancel our appointments at the beginning and saying don't call us we'll call you when you should come back. Two or three years and no call - presumably they got busy with emergencies or people not waiting to be called or whatever.

I've got out of the habit now. I'm of your opinion now, op.

Call my cynical but I'd be willing to bet that with the shortage of NHS dentists, the government has changed the recommended visit to 12 months instead of 6 months.

I think private dentists say 6 months.

I used to go every 6 months before pandemic. Dentist would do a scrape and polish so seemed worthwhile. Since covid, all dentists seem to only do visual check unless something obviously needed cleaning, otherwise you have to pay ££ to see hygienist.
So sod that, I go once a year now just so I can stay on their books.

My dentist tells me to go 9-monthly. DH and the kids go together every 6 months.

hie did you know your child needed braces if you didn’t take them to dentists?

I don't have a dentist, but DP has.

He has bleeding gums. Has told his NHS dentist about it. Had a check up and told all was fine... when it clearly is not.

I go every 6 months, have done for years
I have a check up then hygienist

Dentists will check for mouth cancer . They are often the first to spot early signs and will then refer you to a cancer specialist.