How Often Should I Visit a Dentist — and Does It Have to Be One?

By Amber-Lee, IRDH16 Years Experience

30 sec watchVideo FAQ

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Quick Answer

It does not have to be a dentist — a registered dental hygienist at an independent clinic can do it. Have your gums and teeth checked at least once a year. With gum issues, come every 6 months; with more severe periodontal disease, every 3 to 4 months. See our teeth cleaning services in Riverview NB.

Answered by the team at Bright White Dental Hygiene Clinic in Riverview, NB — serving Moncton and Dieppe.

Key Takeaways

1It does not have to be a dentist — independent hygiene clinics count.
2Minimum: one checkup a year for healthy gums and teeth.
3Gum issues: every 6 months. Severe periodontal disease: every 3–4 months.

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Video Transcript: How Often Should I Visit a Dentist, and Does It Have to Be a Dentist?

Full transcript of the video answer on how often you should visit for a dental checkup — and whether it has to be a dentist — given by Amber-Lee, IRDH, at Bright White Dental Hygiene Clinic in Riverview, NB — serving Moncton and Dieppe.

Question: How often should I visit a dentist, and does it have to be a dentist?

“It doesn't have to be a dentist that you visit — it can be a registered dental hygienist as well. We do have independent clinics. But you should visit a dentist or a dental hygienist at least once a year to have your gums and teeth checked, just to make sure that there's nothing going on. If you have periodontal disease or you have gum issues, we would likely recommend that you come every six months. And if they're more severe and you have periodontal disease, we would often recommend that you come every three to four months.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Common follow-up questions about checkup frequency and hygienist-only care.

No. A registered dental hygienist can provide your routine gum and teeth checks at an independent hygiene clinic like Bright White in Riverview. If anything needs treatment beyond our scope, we refer you to a dentist.

At least once a year. A yearly visit lets your hygienist examine your gums and teeth, remove tartar, and catch small problems before they become painful or expensive.

If you have gum issues or early periodontal disease, we typically recommend a visit every 6 months. If the periodontal disease is more severe, visits every 3 to 4 months keep it under control.

Yes. Every hygiene appointment includes a comprehensive exam of your gums, teeth, and oral tissues. Your hygienist charts what she sees and refers you for treatment when something needs a dentist's care.

Short video answers from Amber-Lee, IRDH — 16 years experience.