Annual or complete examination are different from routine recall check-ups. When patients come to Bristol Dental Clinic for the first time, we do a complete exam often called a New Patient Exam which focus on about 30 check points, a set of small x-rays, a panoramic x-rays if needed, about 8-10 intra-oral camera pictures, patient education, future check points and a detailed treatment plan discussion. This takes about 70 minutes for an adult and about 40 minutes for a child. No treatment is done at this visit but all the time is spent in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment phasing and cost estimation.
The observations from the new patient exam makes a baseline for our patient for future check-ups and treatments. We don't recommend annual complete checks unless there has been a significant change in the dental or medical condition during the past few months. An ideal comprehensive check would be once every 3-5 years. A routine recall check-up is a limited check-up by the family dentists once every 6 - 9 months when the patient is in for their 3 or 4 month scaling. Based on the history of the patient, the dentist will check key areas to ensure the patient is maintaining good oral health and provide intervention if required.