5.4 Recall Intervals
Services Provided
 Services provided during recall visits may vary by risk category or within a risk category. For example, an adult at low risk for dental caries with no change in risk factors or with an addition of protective factors may not need X-rays at the recall visit, even if the recall interval is more than 6 months. Conversely, an 18-year-old identified as being at low risk who is no longer living at home and whose oral hygiene has deteriorated since the last visit probably will need X-rays. At the recall visit, the patient should be evaluated for dental, medical, and lifestyle changes before the dentist determines whether X-rays are needed.
At each recall visit, in addition to conducting an examination, assessing modifying factors, and reviewing the risk category to which the patient has been assigned, the dentist should evaluate the recall interval itself. Dentists should ask themselves the following questions:
- Should the recall interval be shortened because of new modifying factors that have developed since the last visit or because of caries that has developed since the last visit?
- Should the recall interval be lengthened because caries is not active, as it was when first diagnosed, or because the patient now has protective modifying factors?
- Should the recall interval remain the same?
Whatever recall interval is chosen, the patient should be informed of the interval and the reason(s) it was chosen. Educating patients about recall intervals is a way to celebrate good oral health or educate the patient about conditions that are contributing to a continuing oral infection and the negative consequences of that infection.
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