Dental recall

Summary

The NICE dental recall clinical guideline helps clinicians assign recall intervals between oral health reviews that are appropriate to the needs of individual patients. The recommendations apply to patients of all ages (both dentate and edentulous) receiving primary care from NHS dental staff in England and Wales. The guideline takes into account the potential of the patient and the dental team to improve or maintain the patient’s quality of life and to reduce morbidity associated with oral and dental disease.

The recommendations take account of the impact of dental checks on: patients’ well-being, general health and preventive habits; caries incidence and avoiding restorations; periodontal health and avoiding tooth loss; and avoiding pain and anxiety.

This guideline does not cover:

• recall intervals for scale and polish treatments
• the prescription and timing of dental radiographs
• intervals between examinations that are not routine dental recalls; that is, intervals between examinations relating to ongoing courses of treatment
• emergency dental interventions or intervals between episodes of specialist care

Documents

For healthcare professionals

• CG19 Dental recall: Risk factor checklist
• CG19 Dental recall: Full guideline, appendices F and G
• CG19 Dental recall: Full guideline, appendix E
• CG19 Dental recall: Full guideline, appendix D
• CG19 Dental recall: Full guideline, appendices A, B and C
• CG19 Dental recall: Full guideline minus appendices
• CG19 Dental recall: NICE guideline (Word version)
• CG19 Dental recall: NICE guideline
• CG19 Dental recall: Poster
• CG19 Dental recall: Quick reference guide

For patients, carers and the public

• CG19 Dental recall: Information for the public - When should my next dental check-up be?

Background information

• 2004/044 NICE issues guidance on frequency of dental check-ups
• CG19 Dental recall: distribution list

Implementing this guidance

Any further information NICE has produced to help the NHS implement this guideline locally is linked to below:

• None found