In the Netherlands the routine oral examination (ROE) can be characterized as an important tool in dental care. As a result of the changing prevalence of oral diseases of the Dutch population the content of the routine oral examination has changed over time. A representative survey among general dental practitioners has been carried out to investigate the professional performance in the routine oral examination. Participants consisted of a random, stratified sample of 619 dentists, of whom 521 (85%) responded. The Dutch general dental practitioners use the routine oral examination mainly for detecting dental caries and to asses the status of the restorations. About 50% of the responders use a standard recall interval for all patients whereas the other half takes individual patient factors into consideration when determining the recall interval. Both groups differ significantly on the variables: time spend on the routine oral examination, the amount of diagnostic activities, the registration in patient dental records and the frequency of using bitewing radiographs. In the perspective of quality of dental care a national reconsideration of the routine oral examination by professionals and patients is advocated. The instrument of choice would be the use of evidence-based clinical practice guideline development procedures.