Dentists and hygienists.

Going back a few years my dentist used to do a quick scale/polish when he did a check up, but if a more thorough one was needed then it was a separate appointment.

My current dentist, she will do it herself (second appointment) at Band 2 fee which is now £75.30 but they also have a hygienist who charges from £86!

I am very sceptical aboug seeing a dental hygienist.
Im a real wuss so apologies to all hygienists but in my "humble" opinion I think all that poking around in the mouth and scraping and digging loosens the teeth far quicker than just a (very) light scale & polish.

Thoughts please ?

If you need a scale and Polish you should get one in band 1 if you have an NHS Dentist. Sending you for one privately implies that it is not strictly necessary.

Hygienist treatment is ideally preventative, which is not covered by the NHS. If you have gum disease then it is a scale 1 treatment on the NHS. We have an NHS dentist, OH has a regular scale and polish with the hygienist because he gets a build up of tartar, he pays privately but doesn't want to have gum disease. I don't need to go to the hygienist, the dentist gives my teeth a quick scale and polish when I get my regular check.

I have DenPlan and see the dentist twice a year. He does an examination plus scale and polish.

Paid for per visit that would be £145. An examination alone would be £75.

The practice classes seeing the hygienist as preventative care. The charge to see her is £87.00. My dentist doesn’t feel it’s necessary for me to see her.

I use an electric toothbrush and disclosure tablets to highlight any plaque build up that can cause staining.

My neighbour and I go to the same practice but she pays more for her DenPlan. She’s slightly older and has gum problems so she does see the hygienist as well as the dentist.

Crossed posts, foxie, but I think we are saying more or less the same thing about preventative care.

I used to go to the Dentist's private hygienist back when £15 was a lot of money to pay, but considered it worth the cost. Then they got a new Hygienist. I think she was digging for gold or diamonds in my gums, she went so deep. I walked out half way through the appointment, streaming blood. My gums were never the same and I ended up losing all my teeth over the following few years in spite of a specialist's (very expensive) attempts to save them.