Regular six-monthly dental check-ups are to be replaced with a new system where the frequency of dental check-ups will be determined by each patient's specific needs.

This is according to new guidelines launched by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in November. The guidelines recommend that for under 18s, the interval between check-ups should be between 3 and 12 months and for adults it should be between 3 and 24 months.

During the check-up a member of the dental team will be asked to go through a checklist of modifying factors with the patient that could affect the patient's dental health, such as medical and social history and dietary habits. The recall period for the next check-up will be determined on the basis of the assessment of disease levels and risk of or from dental disease.

Six-monthly dental check-ups have been customary in the UK since the inception of the NHS, however according to Chief Dental Officer Raman Bedi, these are no longer neccessary as a result of the increasing use of fluoride toothpaste and improved oral health education.