# How often do you go to the dentist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592 "2010-11-05T16:33:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/41 "2010-11-08T16:02:50Z")
Once a year. I’ve never had a cavity, knock on wood, but the last two trips my hygienist was worried that I had one. I’m going to start going twice a year. It’s $130 a trip but that’s a small price to pay to keep everything in working order. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/42 "2010-11-09T04:43:05Z")
If a university nearby has a dental school, cleanings should run only 50% of that. FWIW, I get my teeth cleaned there. It takes about 2 hours (versus 45 minutes) but it saves money and kids gotta learn somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/43 "2010-11-09T04:48:04Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > If a university nearby has a dental school, cleanings should run only 50% of that. FWIW, I get my teeth cleaned there. It takes about 2 hours (versus 45 minutes) but it saves money and kids gotta learn somehow. I was gonna say, 130 bucks just for cleaning? :eek: Have prices really gone up that much over there? I pay the equivalent of US$17 to my long-time English-speaking dentist. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/44 "2010-11-09T04:59:47Z")
Heh but on the upside, Siam Sam, we’re not always posting about rioting in the streets 😉 $130 is a tad high; my parents’ dentist is $90. This is without insurance, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/45 "2010-11-09T05:09:19Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Heh but on the upside, Siam Sam, we’re not always posting about rioting in the streets 😉 Yeah, well, don’t forget the live lesbian sex shows. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/46 "2010-11-09T18:11:45Z")
Touche, my good man. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/47 "2010-11-09T21:07:24Z")
Just this morning, actually. My teeth are a mess, part genes and part not getting orthodontia as a kid, so I get cleanings three times a year. That and massive attention at night have stabilized things. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/48 "2010-11-09T21:52:22Z")
Well, the hygienist cleans my teeth, I get x-rays, and then the dentist always looks me over too so it’s a little more than a cleaning. Or did I just describe a standard cleaning and I’m getting taken for a ride? Edit: Am I to understand that I should also be receiving a lesbian sex show? Curses, my dentist is cheating me left and right, diabolical bastard! ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/49 "2010-11-10T04:41:38Z")
Every six months, like clockwork. My sister-in-law is a dentist and we get a 50% family discount, or I would have been stretching it to a year lately just to make the budgetary math work. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/50 "2010-11-10T08:35:04Z")
Huh. I haven’t been to a dentist for over 10 years; I haven’t really thought about it until this thread. Nothing seems to be hurting (except when my sinuses start acting up, and I’ve seen a doctor for that), so I never really felt the need. ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/51 "2010-11-10T21:16:13Z")
Cleaning twice a year, the dentist once a year. I used to see the dentist twice a year in America; since we moved, the dentist here says once a year is enough. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/52 "2010-11-11T00:51:49Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > Edit: Am I to understand that I should also be receiving a lesbian sex show? Curses, my dentist is cheating me left and right, diabolical bastard! It’s included under my Bupa policy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592/53 "2010-11-11T01:32:29Z")
When I was between the ages of 12-60, I went twice a year. I was lucky enough to have parents/money enough to do this. When you reach about 60, you only have to go once/year. That’s what I do now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/559592.md?page=2)