How often do you go to the dentist for a check up?

It's been a while because my dentist office closed. I have to call the new dentist I found to make a cleaning appointment.

Dentists are against my religion

The one thing I hate is the money you spend at least here because the insurance doesn't pay everything.

Also against my religion that I don't have.

As is mandatory to keep your dentist here.

I think it might be once that's mandatory, actually, and twice "advised".

Okay, that's nice. They don't do that here if you don't go to them for a long time you can get another appointment.

That's more than enough.

* Caveat: I usually go once a year, every year for decades....didn't go for these last 4 yrs until a month or so ago (vanished off LSI didn't I for a while?---well no one noticed!) Emergency---went to TWO Dentists---serves me right for waiting too long..... so I'll list myself with the ones who do not go longer than 3 years as penance for missing my yearly appointments!

I haven't been in about 4 years due to losing insurance. I've got it again now, just haven't made an appointment. Before that I tried to stay pretty regular with the twice a year thing.

Yeah - that's what I am trying to do Practice. With this temp job I accepted you can't change your schedule so who knows if I can get an appointment with the new dentist unless I make it for months out. Hm - I need to find out if he does Saturday or after 5PM appointments. Before my dentist office closed I used to go as I was supposed to.

It's interesting in EU they recommend once a year, but in USA they recommend twice a year. I wonder why? Money and greed or what?

When I was a kid used to go every 2 years. As an adult I don't have dental insurance, even though getting your teeth cleaned only costs about 30 or 40 bucks. To get the whole check up is what costs a lot. It's probably been 5 years or so.

We're in Europe and, like I said, it's twice here.

When I was in Spain in 2005 and in Argentina, their recommendations were once a year. Did EU change it to two times a year as well? Nice to find out.

No idea. It's been this way for us for as long as I can remember. Not everywhere in Europe is the same. It's no good the US being twice a year if people can't afford it, though.

Oh, okay. I think people just procrastinate just like I am. It's expensive when they do X-rays, then the fluoride, and if you have to get any work done. The basic cleaning isn't as much, but the bills can get out of control if you need a lot of work done.

But the others have mentioned having to have insurance and the check-up costing a lot.

You don't "have" to have insurance - some dentists offer special pricing for people without it. Humana has been advertising big time for $20/month dental insurance. I think where it's expensive is the fluoride, X-Rays and treatment (fillings, root canals, crowns, etc). Then, it would be real expensive if you're adding your spouse and children. I totally get why people don't go.

Update - I went to one today and I'm so happy I'm back in the routine even though they found some cavities.