intervisit

Intervisit is a term used in healthcare to denote the period between two patient visits to a clinician or facility. In clinical documentation, intervisit intervals describe the time span or schedule for follow-up assessments, treatments, or monitoring. The concept is applied across medical and dental specialties to plan ongoing care and track disease activity.

In dentistry, the intervisit interval is commonly referred to as the recall period between preventive visits. For healthy patients, a six-month recall is typical, while higher-risk individuals—such as those with active periodontal disease, high caries risk, or recent procedures—may require shorter intervals (for example, every three months). Longer intervals may be appropriate for very low-risk patients if clinically justified.

In other specialties, such as ophthalmology or primary care, intervisit intervals guide follow-up after treatments or during chronic disease management. For example, patients receiving intravitreal injections may have monthly or biweekly follow-ups, with intervals adjusted based on treatment response and imaging results. In chronic disease management, intervals are tailored to disease stability, treatment regimen, and patient-specific factors.

Intervisit patterns are also studied in healthcare research and management to assess adherence, scheduling efficiency, and resource utilization. Variability in intervals can reflect clinical need, patient access, and system-level constraints, emphasizing the balance between effective monitoring and practical clinic operations.

See also: appointment scheduling, follow-up, recall system, visit frequency, patient adherence.