Dentists and hygienists.

I went to the dentist yesterday for my check-up, and I got the impression that all he wanted was money, £76 for the filling I didn't know I needed. Then he said £245 if I wanted a white filling, which I didn't, it would be £1800 if I wanted a denture infill for my lost tooth. All he kept on about was how much money he got out of me. I refuse to go to the hygienist, no scale and polish, so I have lost confidence in dentists.

We moved over 5 years ago, but still go to our brilliant NHS dentist, 30 miles away for check ups bi annually. However unfortunately no hygienist at there. Scouting around my now local town, I managed to find a newly opened practice who offer a range of services without having to register with them to be your regular dentist. So, not having had a thorough hygienist style clean up for a while, I opted for "air flow" which was expensive but I felt my teeth could benefit from this new technique. It certainly did everything it promised, except the "you won't feel a thing" I did in those areas of sensitivity.

Many decades ago, (back in the 1980's)I was struggling financially - hubbie had MS, and we had a largish young family. Went to dentist to have a filling replaced, and he told me that unless I made an appointment with his newly appointed HygIenist for £25, I would have severe gum disease and lose all my teeth painfully over the next five years. I left there in tears - no way could I find that £25.
Now,forty years later, at age of 85 have all but two of my teeth and no gum disease.

Last time I did go to hygienist (2019), she was so brutal, and left me with a very sore mouth for the whole of the following week, I swore I would never go again.

Look after my teeth carefully on a daily basis, user a water flosser a couple of times each week, and a twice daily careful clean with electric toothbrush. Attend NHS dentist for check up every nine months - had no treatment needed since 2018!!! Always ask them to do clean and polish.

kittylester

Has any one asked for a hand scale? I always do - much less 'aggressive' than the ultrasonic ones!

More likely to ask for a hand OUT after getting my bill

rascalsgran

We see our NHS dentist twice a year for a check up and he always cleans and polishes at the same time, unless we need a separate appointment for a filling or something else then he does it after that. Band one charge. He is very good and we’re very lucky to have him.

You really ARE lucky to have him , that's what all my previous dentists have been like but once the surgery became part of a huge concern, not any more. Pray yours never changes !!

Cabbie21

When I went for my check up the dentist included scaling and polishing. Last time I looked it was listed under Band 1.

My dentist retired and the new one did not include it but said it could be done ( privately) by the hygienist. I think it used to be around £50 but I saw the hygienist today at a cost of £72.

Then she asked me if I wanted stain removal for an additional £55! I said no, but I am not happy that my teeth are still a bit stained. They used not to be affter a hygienist appointment.
What is your experience?

Exactly the same as you.Dentist used to do scale and polish every six months at check up or yearly if not needed at six months.A proper clean , picking, poking and that abrasive stone that sandblasted the stains from your teeth. Same happened to me, hygienist for £56 on top of what I'd paid for check up.
Who is regulating this within NHS ? I just think that they would rather be doing lucrative private work so squeeze as much out of NHS appointments as they can. Ours is always suggesting 'Other dentistry' that we might like to have done..erm NO.

I am far from wealthy, but I pay Denplan monthly for the care of my teeth. I have problematic teeth ( lots of fillings etc) so I feel the expense is well worth it. I see the hygienist twice yearly. I was lucky enough to find a really good surgery not too far from home. I am a very nervous Nelly when it comes to dentists and have passed out in the chair in the past. I feel at ease now, which is a very pleasant change !

Has any one asked for a hand scale? I always do - much less 'aggressive' than the ultrasonic ones!

We see the private dentist twice each year. Each visit costs £76
We also see the hygienist twice each year. Each visit is £76
I had a small repair in March this year where I had chipped a front tooth. The cost of this was £300.
Last November I had a crown on a molar that cost me £750. Five months later dentist removed the same tooth for £650
Tbh I’m amazed at many of the low prices charged on this thread but reckon we are paying way over the odds

Thats interesting SpringsEternal.

I might try that although I do have an extremely high gag complex but worth looking into
Thank you

We see our NHS dentist twice a year for a check up and he always cleans and polishes at the same time, unless we need a separate appointment for a filling or something else then he does it after that. Band one charge. He is very good and we’re very lucky to have him.

Has anyone seen that woman on YouTube that swears by a system of using xylitol, mouthwashes.
Dr. Ellie Phillips for preventing tartar. She said we would never need to see an hygienist ever again if we followed her teeth care.

kittylester

A band one on the NHS should consist of an examination and a scale and Polish, if necessary. Therefore a hygeinist appt should not be necessary unless you request it.

I’ve never known my dentist do a scale & polish

MT62

We get one check up per year & two hygienist appointments at £23ish pounds per appointment.
My husband had a deep clean at his private dentist & it cost him £500 with a course of antibiotics.
My hygienist said it would have come under the nhs at no extra cost.
He’s now been under my dentist for the last couple of years.

Appointments are £27 ish

I've never been to a hygienist. Like you, JdotJ I'm a wuss. I use an ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling; i.e. I put a teaspoon of coconut oil in my mouth and swish it around for about 10 minutes (the first time I want to gag after about one second, but I've built up my time over the years). The oil collects the bacteria in your mouth, then you spit it out. I think it's more thorough and definitely more gentle than flossing and scraping. My dentist noticed a difference straight away. I used to have dreadful gum problems.

I am also on Denplan but my dentist doesn’t do any scale or polishing.
That’s the hygienists job.
I have two sessions per year included in my plan.
I have no idea how much they charge individually.

I see my NHS dentist twice a year and always get a scale but not always a polish. Under thirty pounds. He has not yet sent me to the hygienist. DH had the same dentist and always had to go to the hygienist. He would be in pain for days afterwards she was so rough on him. He used to have a much better daily cleaning regime than me and used to say sulkily “I don’t know how you get away with it!” I think my teeth are living on borrowed time though!

I'm on Denplan and see dentist every 6 mths and hygienist every 3 mths. Unfortunately practice is now so busy that often the hygienist appts are every 4 mths. In spite of this the Denplan cost keeps rising now almost £60 per mth. When I look at the plan most treatments are either only partially covered or not covered at all. Would like to pay as I go but dentist doesn't accept this and very difficult to get another dentist in this area.

Scale and polish used to happen when we went for a checkup at our dentist now there’s none of that and you have to make a separate appointment with hygienist. I don’t believe scale and polish is included in the scale one now. Dental care is so different now and I’m not sure how they still manage to call it NHS.

My dentist always did a scale and polish which was included in the check up. When he retired I was told I had to see the hygienist, I did at a cost of £70+ but the few times I went she caused terrible bleeding, pain in gums and teeth and my teeth after being quite solid became loose. That was 2years ago so have refused the hygienist since,

I starting seeing my dental hygienist a few years ago and would highly recommend.
No poking and prodding it's electronic and painless.
My teeth have never looked so good

I have an NHS dentist and whilst I like him very much, I'm in and out usually in 10 minutes, no scale and polish, so I'm going to enquire about that next checkup. I go to a hygienist twice a year and the price has now gone up to £80.

Interestingly, my OH does the whole shebang of brushing, water flosser etc. and insists that it is necessary. I simply brush carefully, twice (since childhood) - or sometimes three times a day - and use interdental brushes or floss most nights or if I feel it's needed. My dentist always says "Carry on with whatever you're doing".

My dentist suggested I should see their hygienist about 3 years ago. He left me with bleeding gums and all my teeth ached for a couple of days afterwards. I haven't been since and my current dentist seems quite happy with the state of my teeth.

A band one on the NHS should consist of an examination and a scale and Polish, if necessary. Therefore a hygeinist appt should not be necessary unless you request it.

I am with an NHS dentist but she does not do any cleaning or polishing. I pay privately for the hygienist, usually £75. I left my last practice because the hygienist spent half the very expensive session telling me how to use a tooth brush and seemed to relish brutality! Current one is lovely, very big Nigerian man who is so caring and he has managed to keep gum disease from escalating.