Every 6 months, though I had stopped going once I went to college and only began again about 2 years ago. So that was about 7-8 years that I never went, and I didn’t have any problems when I finally started going again.
I’ve gone fewer than ten times in my entire life, and I’m 39. The last was about three years ago, and things were okay then…crosses fingers. Our insurance doesn’t cover it, nothing hurts, and I rarely go to doctors of any sort anyway.
Once, when I was in my twenties and had no hope of affording a visit, a wisdom tooth was trying unsuccessfully to push its way through. I was in great pain and one day at work I couldn’t stand it any longer. I took the blade out of the box cutter, sterilized it with a lighter, and cut my gum open. Huge relief, and never had any further problem.
. I have not had a cavity since I started going every six months. It does make a difference.
I go every 4 months, insurance pays for 2 per year - I eat the extra. Worth it - I love my teeth.
When I was 17 and still on my parents’ insurance, then never, until I had an abscessed wisdom tooth when I was 43, even if my insurance would cover it. I’ve never had any cavities, so it didn’t make any difference. A toothbrush and floss is good enough cleaning. I hate dentists. I REALLY hate dentists. If nothing is hurting, I ain’t going!
Once every year or so.
I went every six months till I was 21 and graduated from college and was no longer on my parent’s insurance. I actually DID get a job that had dental insurance…except I was located out of state from the company I worked for, and it was crummy dental coverage that wouldn’t work at any local dentists to me. Then I quit that job and had no insurance at all for three years.
I have a job now with dental, so I should probably go to a dentist, cause it has been over six years…
I go 3 times a year for cleanings. Once a year for a check up.
Twice a year for cleanings, like clockwork.
I wish I could say I still have all my teeth, but I did get all four wisdom teeth pulled a long time ago, and I have no regrets about it.
But I still have more than my two elder siblings.
Combined.
(Who, by the way, never made regular dental appointments.)
Me too except I am 46.
Three times a year though my insurance pays only for two. My mouth is the only part of me that doesn’t work very well. Though I use every tooth cleaning advance known to man, it has finally stabilized. My wife vaguely brushes her teeth twice a day with a manual toothbrush, and has no problems.
I’ve just started going again after a gap of ten years - I had some gum disease that needed cleaning, but no cavities or fillings or anything, and all seems to have been fixed in two visits. I suppose I’ll go more often now, but maybe annually? My teeth seem to look after themselves fairly well, all things considered…
Every 6 months, because my parents pay for the cleanings (we don’t have or need dental insurance, we all genetically have really spectacular enamel).
Once they stop paying for my cleanings, I’ll go once a year. Dentist (and other dentists) have said I can go a whole year - even 18 months if I wanted to push it - because my teeth are really good. I’m very lucky in this regard.
Once a year for checkup and cleaning, that’s what my dentist recommends.
I go in two to three times a year for cleanings. I have to because I have minimal space between my teeth. Even with flossing I need frequent cleanings.
I didn’t go from the time I was about 6 until I was 18 - I have no idea if that was lack of insurance or other reasons. I went before I started college and had some teeth filled, then didn’t go for 2 years when I got my wisdom teeth out. Then it was another 2 years later that I got my first root canal after an abscess developed.
After college, it was about 6 years before I went back - and there was a lot of stuff that had to get done. I got it all caught up, went back to grad school and no longer had insurance, so I stopped going. Went again before I left last job, had a bunch of stuff done, then moved out here, where I put off going for a yearish.
Once I got a dentist, I now go every 6 months. If this implant gets done in April, then I’ll be going every 3 months for a couple of years (dentist, periodontist, dentist, periodontist) before I get back to every six months.
I have good insurace, but I also have good teeth. I’m 46 and haven’t had a cavity since I was 18.
I just went in for a check up and cleaning for the first time in 10 years. Cleaning took 15 minutes, the checkup took five (not counting x-rays) and the dentist said my teeth were boringly healthy.
He did insist I come back more often than every 10 years, though.
You people who have never had cavities; whats it like? I started going at age 10 and never went without having a cavity filled. I can estimate about 20+ all together, had a bunch of healthy permanent teeth pulled cause there wasn’t enough room for them and now have 5 teeth, so once a year at best I go.
Every 6 months - at the appointment, I set up the next one so it’s done. I’ll need to get a crown soonish; one of my back teeth is cracked (apparently) and the dentist is watching it but says it’ll need a crown in the future. (Not looking forward to that.)
Like BigBertha, I have a lot of fillings, even though I went to the dentist frequently growing up. Just my teeth, I guess. Indeed, it’s probably the old filling that’s leading to the cracking in this back tooth, but what can you do?
I’m worried about Mr. Snicks - he hasn’t been to the dentist in a while. He’s got good teeth and has only had like one cavity, but certainly his luck can’t hold. I’d like to see him start going more regularly. He’s got an amazing work ethic, though, and something always comes up. Maybe I should nag him more, but he’s an adult. I’m certainly not going to make his appointments for him.
4 times per year for cleanings, two of those include a once-over by the dentists with probings with sharp objects, and one of the appointments includes x-rays.
Insurance pays all. I am classified as a periodontal patient because of chronic low-level gingivitis in a couple of areas (though not the whole mouth). Dentist says those problem areas are due to my off-kilter bite and the presence of all 4 wisdom teeth, which are very hard to keep clean.
I love getting my teeth cleaned, so I am happy to go this often. Plus my hygienist and dentist (and their office manager) are wonderful people that I enjoy visiting.