IN THE CHAIR
Look, ask, discuss
The NHS says the dentist should examine teeth, gums and mouth, ask about your health, talk about diet, smoking, alcohol and cleaning, and agree a next date.
What happensWHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS
Not every
six months.
The check-up gap is set for you, not by the calendar.
3 TO 24 months between check-ups
40% Adults seen by an NHS dentist in 24 months
- Checked, then asked
- Gap set by risk
- Reviewed each visit
- How a routine recall works
NICE guidance says the time between routine check-ups should be decided for each person, from 3 months up to 2 years for adults. This independent guide explains what happens in the chair and how that gap is chosen.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The gap depends
on your mouth.
Six months is tradition.
UK guidance asks for a gap fitted to each person.
THE GAP
3 months to 2 years
NICE CG19 sets the shortest routine gap at 3 months and the longest at 24 months for adults, or 12 months for under-18s.
See the ranges
THE EVIDENCE
Six-monthly vs risk-based
A 2020 Cochrane review found little to no difference in decay, gum disease or quality of life between six-monthly and risk-based check-ups in adults.
See the numbersGeneral information only, not medical advice. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.
WHAT THE RANGES ARE
Which part of
the range?
Pick a situation to see what the guidance says about the gap before the next routine check-up. The bar shows how often check-ups tend to come round.
Quoted from NICE guideline CG19 and the NHS website. Your dentist sets your own interval; this is general information, not dental advice.
WHAT A CHECK-UP COVERS
Four things
to expect.
The NHS lists what a routine check-up should include. Treatment such as fillings is booked separately.
A look at teeth, gums and mouth
The dentist examines your teeth, gums and the rest of your mouth.
Questions about your health
Expect questions about your general health and any problems since your last visit.
A talk about habits
Diet, smoking, alcohol and teeth-cleaning habits are discussed, with advice where it helps.
A date for next time
The dentist recommends when to come back. NICE says this should be recorded and reviewed at the next visit.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Who actually
gets seen.
NHS figures for England, 2024/25,
counted over the same windows NICE uses as maximum gaps.
40%
Adults seen by an NHS dentist in 24 months
18 million adults were seen in the 24 months to 31 March 2025, which NHSBSA says was 40% of England's adult population.
ADULTS · NHSBSA
57%
Children seen by an NHS dentist in 12 months
6.9 million children were seen in the 12 months to 31 March 2025, 57% of the mid-year child population.
CHILDREN · NHSBSA
These counts cover NHS dentistry only, so people seen privately are not included. Source: NHSBSA, Dental statistics England 2024/25.
WHERE SIX MONTHS CAME FROM
A habit,
now under review.
Cochrane notes that six-monthly check-ups have traditionally been advised in many high-income countries. Its 2020 review looked for trials that compared different gaps and found two, with 1,736 people.
In adults it found little to no difference between six-monthly and risk-based check-ups in decay, gum disease or quality of life, and that gaps up to 24 months may not make these worse. It found too little reliable evidence to say how often children should go.
Questions
Questions people ask
Should everyone see the dentist every six months?
Not according to UK guidance. The NHS says some people may not need to go so often and others may need more frequent checks, with gaps from 3 months to 2 years.
Who decides when my next check-up is?
Your dentist recommends it after the check-up, based on your oral health and risk. NICE says it should be discussed with you and your agreement or disagreement recorded.
Is the gap different for children?
Yes. NICE sets the longest gap at 12 months for under-18s, because decay can progress faster in children and teeth are still developing.
Can the gap change?
Yes. NICE says it should be reviewed at each check-up and patients should be told it may vary over time, shorter or longer as needed.
What if something hurts between check-ups?
The NHS says to contact your dental surgery for an appointment. Out of hours, ring the surgery's usual number to be told how to get emergency dental care.
Where the facts come from
Updated