Dental Check-Ups: What To Do
Routine examination of teeth, gums and soft tissues by a dentist.
Last revised
The interval is meant to be set by risk rather than fixed at six months, and the soft-tissue check for mouth cancer is the part nobody thinks about.
Key takeaways
- NICE recommended interval: between 3 and 24 months, based on risk
- Free NHS dental care: under 18, pregnant or 12 months after birth, and certain benefits
- Most useful single change: Attend at the interval your dentist sets rather than assuming six months.
- Commonest mistake: Only attending when something hurts.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Do
- Attend at the interval your dentist sets rather than assuming six months
- Check whether you qualify for free NHS dental treatment
- Use NHS 111 for urgent dental problems if you are not registered
- Mention any mouth ulcer or patch lasting more than three weeks
Do not
- Only attending when something hurts
- Assuming six months is right for everyone
- Ignoring soft-tissue changes because teeth feel fine
The figures behind the list
Each item above follows from these, published in the guidance named at the foot of the page.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| NICE recommended interval | between 3 and 24 months, based on risk |
| Free NHS dental care | under 18, pregnant or 12 months after birth, and certain benefits |
| Includes | a check for mouth cancer as well as teeth and gums |
| Urgent dental care | available through NHS 111 if you have no dentist |
Where to go next
- Why Dental Check-Ups Matters, Explained Simply
- The Dental Check-Ups Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
- Dental Check-Ups — the reference entry
- Mouth Ulcers: What Published Guidance Supports
- What the Guidance Really Says About Bad Breath
When to get help
See a dentist or GP urgently for any mouth ulcer, red or white patch, lump or persistent hoarseness lasting more than three weeks — these need assessment for mouth cancer. Seek urgent dental care for facial swelling, fever with toothache, or uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.