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Twice a year is the standard — once every six months for a cleaning and checkup. That covers most kids and most adults in good oral health. But "twice a year" is the average, not the rule. Some people genuinely need more frequent visits, and a few can stretch them. Here's how to think about it for each member of the family.
Learn about family dentistry for all ages at our Centennial dental office → /family-dentistry
Where the Six-Month Number Comes From
The American Dental Association recommends regular dental visits at intervals determined by the dentist, based on each patient's risk. For most people, that interval works out to six months — long enough for plaque and tartar to build up, short enough to catch most cavities and gum changes before they become bigger problems.
A six-month cleaning costs a fraction of a filling. Catching a problem at the checkup stage is one of the few places in healthcare where prevention is dramatically cheaper than treatment.
Kids (Roughly Age 1 to 12)
• First visit by age one or within six months of the first tooth.
• Every six months after that for most kids.
• More often (every 3–4 months) if your child has had cavities, wears braces, or has a high-sugar diet that's hard to wrangle.
• Fluoride and sealants happen at these visits — both are evidence-based ways to lower cavity risk.
Teens (Roughly 13 to 18)
• Every six months remains standard.
• Orthodontic patients may need more frequent cleanings —brackets and wires are plaque traps.
• This is the age when wisdom teeth start to be evaluated. Most are watched starting in the mid-teens.
• Sports mouthguards are worth asking about for athletes.
Adults (Roughly 19 to 64)
• Every six months for most healthy adults.
• Every 3–4 months for adults with active gum disease, a history of frequent cavities, diabetes, or who smoke.
• Pregnancy is a time to keep up with cleanings, not skip them — gum changes in pregnancy are real and a cleaning is safe.
• Crown, bridge, and implant patients need the same six-month interval — the restorations don't get cavities, but the gums and supporting bone around them still need attention.
Older Adults (65+)
• Still six months for most, sometimes more often.
• Dry mouth from medications raises cavity risk and may justify a shorter interval.
• Existing dental work (older fillings, crowns, dentures) needs monitoring as it ages.
• Oral cancer screening at each visit becomes more important — risk rises with age.
When Six Months Is Too Long
If any of these apply to anyone in the household, talk to us about a shorter interval:
• Active gum disease (bleeding, swollen, or receding gums).
• More than one cavity in the last two years.
• Diabetes, especially if not well-controlled.
• Smoking or vaping.
• Recent major dental work that's still settling in.
• A history of dental anxiety where stretching visits caused problems.
Practical Tip: Stack the Appointments
Most families find it easier to book everyone's six-month checkups in the same week — sometimes the same day, back-to-back. One drive, one set of "how was your day at school" conversations on the way home. Most front-desk teams are happy to do this with a little advance notice.
About the Authors
Drs. Bart & James Christiansen, DDS are brothers practicing in Centennial, CO. Bart has been practicing since 1988 and James since 2009. They offer general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry for the whole family.
