How Often Should You Go to the Dentist? Your Top Questions – Answered!

Reviewed by Dr. My Le, DDS | 16th Avenue Dental, NW Calgary, AB

Whether you are a new patient or have not been to the dentist in a while, you probably have a few questions. How often is often enough? Does it matter when your child first goes? What actually happens during a checkup — and what goes wrong when you skip one?

At our dental clinic in NW Calgary, these are some of the most common questions we hear. Below, we have answered each one in plain language — no jargon, no pressure, just the information you need to make good decisions about your oral health.

How Often Should You Go to the Dentist?

The standard recommendation most people have heard is twice a year, and for many patients that is a sensible starting point. The Canadian Dental Association’s official position on frequency of care states that routine reexamination and preventive care is essential to optimal oral health, and that the right interval between visits should be based on an individual risk assessment — covering factors like caries risk, periodontal health, cancer screening needs, and growth and development — rather than a fixed schedule applied to everyone.

In practice, this means:

• Low-risk patients with healthy teeth and gums may be well-served by an annual or biannual checkup
• Moderate-risk patients may benefit from visiting every six months as a consistent baseline
• High-risk patients are often advised to come in every three to four months to stay ahead of active disease

The high-risk group typically includes people who smoke, have diabetes, are pregnant, are prone to cavities or have chronic dry mouth, have a weakened immune system, or are managing existing gum disease. If you fall into any of these categories, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits — and there is good clinical reason for that guidance.

It is also important not to let your dental plan dictate your visit schedule. Coverage limits are determined by insurance actuaries, not dentists — and the frequency your insurer will pay for is not necessarily the frequency your mouth needs. This matters more than many people realise: according to Statistics Canada’s first-ever national Canadian Oral Health Survey, conducted from November 2023 to March 2024, just under three in four Canadians (72%) reported having visited an oral health professional in the previous 12 months — meaning roughly one in four Canadians is currently not receiving even the minimum recommended level of dental care.

Not sure what schedule is right for you? Book a routine dental cleaning and checkup and we can assess your individual risk level and recommend the right frequency from there.

Call Us: 403-282-9141

At What Age Should My Child First See the Dentist?

Earlier than most parents expect — and earlier than many actually bring their children in. Baby teeth typically begin to erupt around six months of age, and from that point, a child’s mouth is susceptible to early childhood caries (ECC), a form of tooth decay that can affect children as young as six months to six years old. ECC is not merely a cosmetic concern — untreated decay in baby teeth can cause pain, infection, malocclusion, and disruption to the eruption of permanent teeth.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist within six months of their first tooth coming in, or by one year of age at the very latest. This recommendation is backed by strong evidence. Research published in PMC found that the age at first dental visit is associated with the amount of restorative treatment needed before age six — children who are seen later are more likely to require treatment, reinforcing the value of that early preventive appointment.

Despite this, the same national survey referenced above found that children under six years of age were the least likely age group to have seen an oral health professional in the previous 12 months, with only 52% having done so — a significant gap, given that this is precisely the age group the CDA recommendation targets.

The first dental visit does not just protect your child’s teeth. It gives you as a parent the opportunity to ask questions, learn about proper brushing techniques for young children, understand the role of diet and bottle feeding in decay risk, and get guidance on fluoride use. It also helps your child build a positive relationship with the dental environment from a young age — which research consistently links to lower dental anxiety later in life.

We make the first visit as calm and gentle as possible for little ones. To book your child’s first dental visit at our NW Calgary clinic, get in touch with our friendly team.

What Actually Happens During a Dental Checkup?

A standard dental checkup is made up of two main components: a professional cleaning and a clinical examination. Together, these cover things that brushing and flossing at home simply cannot address — no matter how diligent your daily routine is.

The Professional Cleaning

Your dental hygienist begins by taking a close look at your gums and teeth before any cleaning starts, using a small mirror to check for visible signs of inflammation, bleeding, or other concerns. They then use a hand scaler or ultrasonic instrument to remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) from the surfaces of your teeth and along and beneath the gum line. This step — called scaling — is the part of dental care that cannot be replicated at home. No matter how well you brush, plaque that has hardened into tartar can only be removed by a professional.

Once scaling is complete, your teeth are polished with a mildly abrasive professional paste to remove surface stains and smooth the enamel. This is followed by thorough flossing between every contact point, and in most cases a fluoride treatment to help strengthen enamel and protect against decay until your next visit. A routine cleaning typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the amount of buildup present.

The Clinical Examination

After the cleaning, your dentist carries out a thorough oral examination. This includes a visual and tactile assessment of every tooth for signs of decay, cracking, or wear; an evaluation of your gum tissue and measurement of periodontal pocket depths to check for signs of gum disease; an assessment of your bite and jaw alignment; and an oral cancer screening, which involves checking the soft tissues of the mouth, tongue, and throat for any unusual changes. Oral cancer screenings are a routine and painless part of every checkup — and early detection makes a significant difference in outcomes.

Dental X-rays are typically taken on a periodic basis — often once every 12 to 24 months for adults, depending on your risk level — to identify problems that are not visible to the naked eye, such as decay forming between teeth, bone changes around tooth roots, or issues with existing restorations.

At the end of your appointment, your dentist will walk you through any findings, answer your questions, and discuss next steps if any treatment is needed. Nothing will be done without your understanding and consent.

What Are the Signs You Should See a Dentist Sooner?

Regular checkups are important, but certain symptoms should not wait until your next scheduled visit. Contact your dentist promptly — or visit our emergency dental care page if the situation is urgent — if you experience any of the following:

• Persistent tooth pain — any toothache lasting more than one to two days should be assessed. Pain can indicate decay reaching the pulp, a cracked tooth, or an abscess, all of which worsen without treatment
• Bleeding or swollen gums — occasional light bleeding from aggressive brushing is common, but regular bleeding, puffiness, or gums that are pulling away from your teeth are early warning signs of gum disease that should not be ignored
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the temperature is gone — brief sensitivity is common, but sensitivity that lasts for several seconds or longer after the stimulus is removed can point to a cavity, worn enamel, or a cracked tooth
• A loose or shifting adult tooth — adult teeth should never feel loose. This is a sign of advanced bone or tissue loss around the tooth and requires prompt evaluation
• Jaw pain, clicking, or locking — these can be signs of a TMJ disorder, which responds well to early treatment but can become more complex if left unaddressed
• A mouth sore that has not healed within two weeks — most mouth ulcers resolve on their own within 7–10 days. One that persists longer should always be examined to rule out infection or other concerns
• Visible changes in the colour or texture of your gum tissue or the inside of your mouth — white patches, red patches, or areas that look different from the surrounding tissue should be checked promptly
• Swelling in the jaw or face — facial swelling alongside tooth pain can indicate a dental abscess, which is a serious infection that requires urgent care

A useful rule of thumb: if something in your mouth feels different from normal and has been present for more than a week or two, have it looked at. Most problems are far simpler and less expensive to treat when caught early.

What Happens If You Skip Dental Visits?

Dental problems almost never resolve on their own — and they almost always get worse the longer they go without attention. The consequences of skipping regular dental care operate on a predictable progression.

In the short term, plaque that is not professionally removed hardens into tartar within 24 to 72 hours of formation. Once it hardens, it cannot be removed by brushing alone — it requires a professional scaling. Tartar buildup along the gum line is the primary driver of gingivitis, the earliest and still-reversible stage of gum disease. Most people do not know they have gingivitis because it often causes no pain.

If left untreated, gingivitis progresses into periodontitis — a more serious and irreversible form of gum disease that causes the gum tissue and bone supporting your teeth to break down. Gum disease has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and even Alzheimer’s disease, reinforcing that oral health is not separate from your general health — it is part of it. Cavities follow a similar trajectory: a small area of decay that could have been resolved with a simple filling can, if left untreated, progress to a point where a root canal treatment or even extraction becomes the only option.

Over the long term, skipping dental visits means missing the early detection that makes treatment straightforward. This includes missing oral cancer screenings — where early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes — as well as missing the monitoring of systemic conditions that can present with oral symptoms, including diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and certain autoimmune conditions.

The financial argument for regular visits is also compelling. A routine cleaning is a fraction of the cost of a root canal, and a root canal is a fraction of the cost of extraction followed by an implant or bridge. Preventive care is consistently the most cost-effective dental investment you can make.

If it has been a while since your last visit, there is no judgment here — just a team ready to help you get back on track. Explore our restorative dental care options if you have concerns about existing dental issues, or simply book a checkup and we will assess where things stand.

Ready to Book Your Next Visit?

Whether you are overdue for a checkup, noticing a new symptom, or bringing your child in for the very first time, Dr. My Le and the team at 16th Avenue Dental are here to help. We provide thorough, patient-centred care in a welcoming, pressure-free environment — for patients of all ages across NW Calgary.

We welcome patients from Mount Pleasant, Crescent Heights, Hillhurst, Sunnyside, Kensington, West Hillhurst, Capitol Hill, Rosedale, Tuxedo, Briar Hill, Renfrew, Rosemont, and surrounding Calgary neighbourhoods.

Or reach us directly:

• Call us at: 403-282-9141
• Email us at: info@16thavenuedental.ca

This article is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personal dental advice. Please consult with a licensed dental professional for guidance specific to your oral health needs.

16th Avenue Dental is located in Calgary, AB. We happily welcome patients from Mount Pleasant, Crescent Heights, Hillhurst, Sunnyside, Kensington, West Hillhurst, Capitol Hill, Rosedale, Tuxedo, Briar Hill, Renfrew, Rosemont, and Downtown Calgary.