Dental hygienist

I pay £18 a month with Denplan which entitles me to two check ups with the dentist and four hygienist appointments each year. Plus 10% off all treatment and emergency treatment when away from home. I think it’s really good value.

Almost £50 per mth under Denplan which includes 2 visits with dentist per yr and 4 visits with hygienist. Quite expensive but worth every penny, mind you I thought my teeth were in good repair until I went to live in the US where I was told how bad they were and even had dental surgery for gum disease. This was after getting a second opinion as did not believe the first dentist I saw.

I bought a water flosser and scraper tools from amazon and my dentist says how well I clean my teeth so think I can't be doing too bad a job at mid 60's and refusing to pay such high prices for similar treatment yo that I'm doing myself.

happycatholicwife1

I have heard so much about healthcare being free in the UK. I have also heard that dental care is not included. Am I mistaken? Some people seem to be saying they had dental care through the NHS. Just asking. Thx.

The issue is that very few dentists are accepting NHS patients. Even if they are accepted, most NHS patients have to pay a small fee, although what they receive for that is now very basic.

4allweknow

Charleygirl5 As your dental treatment is under NHS, syrely if tge dentist thinks your teeth need cleaning (scale and polish I'd guess) it shoukd be carried out as part of treatment. I'm curious why others too seem to have NHS treatment but pay privately for cleaning.

I'm an NHS patient for dental care, but cleaning is no longer included in the standard care, unless gum disease is considered bad enough to require hospital referral. I pay if I want to see the hygienist, although my former dentist did a bit for free before he retired.

I have heard so much about healthcare being free in the UK. I have also heard that dental care is not included. Am I mistaken? Some people seem to be saying they had dental care through the NHS. Just asking. Thx.

Apologies I'm writing in almost dark, hence the mistakes. At least that's my excuse.

Charleygirl5 As your dental treatment is under NHS, syrely if tge dentist thinks your teeth need cleaning (scale and polish I'd guess) it shoukd be carried out as part of treatment. I'm curious why others too seem to have NHS treatment but pay privately for cleaning.

Cat4

My dental hygienist charges £160 for an hour. If it is decided a 30 minute appointment is required that is £85. They want you to attend twice a year and visit the expensive dentist in between visits.

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I have a dental plan that costs £16.50 a month (has just gone up after several years at £12.50). For that I get two check ups and xrays and two hygienist appointments every year plus 10% if I need any other treatment.

My NHS dentist used to do a thorough scale and polish as part of my check up. He retired and I had to find another dentist, who insisted that only the hygienist could do the scale and polish, at £50 a time. After Covid, she used all sorts of different equipment and it was like a torture chamber. She wanted me to return in three months but I declined. I have bought a water flosser and then a sonic toothbrush, so I think I do a pretty good job.

We go privately and I think for a check up and hygienist it cost £175.00 each ! However they both do an excellent job. I had a crown which looks excellent and should last me out that cost £700 ?

Mine is currently £65, I go every 6 months and it's gone up every time. As I am terrified of false teeth it's worth it to me

We have our rescue dogs teeth cleaned when she has her cut and blow dry. Her teeth were all brown when we had her. We are charged £10 and the gums are now healthy and the teeth beautiful. I am thinking of asking the groomer to do mine.x

I pay as you go at my private dentist and I have hygenist appointments every 3 months and they are £40 a time.

We have private dental healthcare. Its’s about £70-80pm for three of us which includes free check ups and hygienist, so I’m guessing that’s about £30pm for us and less for our dd. If one hygienist visit is £80 it’s worth looking into private cover.

I had an appointment with the hygienist last week and it was £80 she wants to see me again in 6 weeks but I wont be able to afford to attend that regularly so I said I would ring to make appointment as they take a deposit from you when you book. I was astouned at the cost but dont wish to be discussing my finances with her or the Reception staff.

Check up with the NHS dentist. Hygienist appointment straight after. Cost £23.80. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. I must be very lucky!

Madashell

The government want dentistry out of the NHS, same as has happened with Optics (Speccysaves are not NHS but carry out tests for the NHS). Dentists are paid by the treatment unit which was deemed not fit for purpose many years ago. An NHS dentist carries out a root canal over 3/4 visits and gets paid the same amount if he/she were to just extract the tooth. During lockdown and after this government imposed such strict criteria for seeing patients that many NHS dentists couldn’t make a living (I know of one practice where instead of seeing 150 patients a day they could only see 15 -fifteen).
If you are really angry about a lack of NHS dentists, don’t blame the NHS write to your MP and sign the petition on change.org. Dental training takes many years and the overheads are very high. if you can’t afford private treatment see if there is a Dental Access service in your area for emergencies.
Covid is doing for the NHS and patients what the government only dreamed of. Remember this when you next vote the American system is coming…

I would add, don't blame the dentists.

In the old days (about ten years ago), our dentist scraped and polished our teeth as part of the annual checkup. Can’t remember the cost but it was less than £50. Sadly he retired and our new NHS dentist does not do this as there is a hygienist. Haven’t used him/her yet as I think it unnecessary if you clean and floss your teeth regularly. I enquired about whitening, which would cost £500.

no nhs dentists for about 100 miles. ( Devon & Cornwall)
I've never been to a hygienist
a water flosser is good and can be found quite reasonably
why do you need to see somebody else if you have a dentist?

£93 ten days ago!
Private not NHS.
May use NHS next time.
Last year was £60 Private.

The government want dentistry out of the NHS, same as has happened with Optics (Speccysaves are not NHS but carry out tests for the NHS). Dentists are paid by the treatment unit which was deemed not fit for purpose many years ago. An NHS dentist carries out a root canal over 3/4 visits and gets paid the same amount if he/she were to just extract the tooth. During lockdown and after this government imposed such strict criteria for seeing patients that many NHS dentists couldn’t make a living (I know of one practice where instead of seeing 150 patients a day they could only see 15 -fifteen).
If you are really angry about a lack of NHS dentists, don’t blame the NHS write to your MP and sign the petition on change.org. Dental training takes many years and the overheads are very high. if you can’t afford private treatment see if there is a Dental Access service in your area for emergencies.
Covid is doing for the NHS and patients what the government only dreamed of. Remember this when you next vote the American system is coming…

I refuse to used the services of a dental hygienist since I saw one many years ago. She was brutal, she made my gums bleed and dug so deeply with the instruments that she actually cut into my gum line. Whenever I'm told to make an appointment I always say " I'm almost 70 and only enough to clean my own teeth thank you " .

I change the head on my electric toothbrush regularly, brush three times a day, floss regularly and use a mouthwash........no sign of receding gums, or bad breath .

The going rate for a session with a dental hygienist in south London is £80 + or - £10. I know this because I have tried virtually every one for an elderly relative who thinks she can get 45 minutes of a professional's time for £30. I keep telling her that if she doesn't keep her teeth clean she will get gum disease and the teeth will then fall out. Thinking about it this way £80 seems a small price to pay for being able to eat food that requires teeth to chew it!