Selecting appropriate recall intervals for patients in general dental practice--an audit project to categorize...

In 2004, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was asked to prepare guidance for the NHS in England and Wales on the clinical need and cost-effectiveness of a dental recall examination for all patients at an interval based upon their risk from oral disease. (Dental Recall: recall interval between routine dental examinations). Unlike other NICE guidelines, this potentially applies to the whole population. The Department of Health wishes to reduce the number of'routine' six-monthly check-ups. Best practice now recommends that all patients undertake an oral health assessment prior to categorizing them into a recall programme. The article describes how an audit project was undertaken to establish compliance within General Dental Practice to the guidelines.

Dentists and patients now have the opportunity to discuss appropriate recall intervals together and prescribe reviews at time periods appropriate to each patient's disease process and risk.