One of the most common things you’ll hear about oral hygiene is that you need to see your family dentist in Seattle at least twice a year. These checkups are for just that: to get a regular clean and to make sure there are no issues to tackle, such as forming cavities.

Do you really need to go twice a year, though? Could you limit it to just once a year? This is going to depend on a number of factors.

What Does Your Dentist Recommend?

A good family dentist in Seattle will look at your overall oral health and determine if twice-a-year is a necessary schedule. While they do want to grow their business, the good ones will also look at your needs and assess how often you need to go. Some could even suggest that you go more often than twice a year because of issues you’ve had in the past in or recent visits.

Listen to your dentist. They are the professionals. They’ve been through the schooling. If you aren’t sure if your dentist is right, you can always get a second opinion. There’s nothing wrong with switching dentists, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get a different answer.

If you’re struggling financially because you don’t have insurance or your insurance won’t cover twice-a-year checkups, then you’ll want to be open about this with your dentist. They can then set a schedule that will work for you financially and keep your mouth healthy.

Do You Have a Lot of Oral Health Problems?

Do you have a history of cavities? Maybe you have other issues with your oral health. There are all sorts of genetic reasons that you’ll need to see your family dentist in Seattle for, such as gum issues that other members of your family have had.

Your dentist will have this in mind when recommending a schedule. The more oral health issues you have, the more you’ll want to go in a year. This just helps to prevent regression or furthering the problem.

Do You Have Other Health Conditions?

If you have diabetes, you’re pregnant, or there are other health issues, you may need to see your dentist more regularly. Twice a year is usually a good start, but your dentist may want to see you more frequently because of known issues.

It’s important to fill out the medical forms correctly. If you find out that you could be pregnant, then you’ll want to discuss this with your dentist as soon as possible. Your family dentist in Seattle will then be able to put together a temporary plan. Then after you have the baby, you will likely be able to go back to your original scheduled. As you age, your dentist may want to see you more regularly if there are health issues developing.

It’s essential that you talk to your family dentist in Seattle about the best checkup schedule for you. Twice a year is pretty standard to stay on top of any oral health issues, but your dentist may be able to work out a different schedule for you.