Dental Hygienist

[user87382294757]

Is it really important to see one? I hate it, find it painful and expensive and don't like the scraping etc. I'm unsure of it is really necessary, as think the dentist gives a scale and polish anyway at the check up. Do you see one and what are your thoughts on it? Thanks

I go every 3 months. I have bonded retainers though but I don’t have to go that much I choose to. I agree it’s not the most pleasant thing in the world but it feels good after, teeth feel so clean. I am very good with flossing and brushing but she always pulls little bits of food out (yuk, sorry( especially the gum around my wisdom tooth. As she says, she can reach the places I can’t.

Everyone I know seems to getting advised to see the hygienist these days. Previously the dentist would give you a quick scale and polish during the examination but now we are being advised to see they hygienist who gives you the whole shebang which is always very unpleasant I agree OP plus you have to pay the band 2 price.
I do wonder if it is really necessary to see the hygienist every check up time whether it is just a way for them to make some more money

If hygeinist is scaping out lots of stuff you probably need to see them. I make a lot of plaque- despite water flosser, electric toothbrush and Tee Pees daily..My dad did too. I also drink a lot of water to try to keep my saliva less sticky. I still need the hygeinist every 6 months.
TBH I don't care about polishing-I just want to keep the plaque down and keep my gums healthy. The dentist doesn't do much of a scale and polish- she is more interested in health and diet information and mouth cancer avoidance.

We moved countries and I therefore changed dentists. Both DH and I had been advised to make an appointment with the hygienist and DH came back amazed at how much more thorough it had been. I also went and it wasn't painful at all, she used lots of different tools and my teeth felt wonderful after. I was told to come once a year, though, because I'm usually pretty good with my teeth.
(The dentist was quite shocked at my fillings, though...and said that any student doing such a bad job here would fail their course. ...I had already gone private for them in the UK.)

Nope; a basic scale and polish can be done as per of a regular check up by your usual dentist. Before we moved last November I would have it done occasionally (only ever went to the dentist occasionally) with the check up appointment. Now we’ve moved we’re on a waiting list for an NHS dentist - up to 3 years wait here to get allocated a dentist.

It is important
If the dentist thinks you need it. You need it
The hygienist can show you how to use the various flosses and brushes can explain what’s happening in your mouth
And will clean your teeth so they sparkle
FYI - a dentist spends 5/6 years at college and in that time spends 6 weeks ish learning how to scale and polish whilst a hygienist spends 3 years ( these days) concentrating on gums
Who would you rather give you a hygienist treatment ?

@Heatherjayne1972, no way is a hygienist charging £50+ to do what is included in my basic dental check up, and is carried out perfectly adequately by the dentist, getting anywhere near my mouth. I will be guided by the dentist if there is anything going on in my mouth and don’t need to be taught how to use optional extras that such as flossers or brushes.

@rememberallball
It is of course your choice who you see
However the hygienist doesn’t charge anything. We have no say at all over any charges -ever that’s always 100% down to the principal dentist
Also dentists in my experience are usually rubbish at advising patients on oral hygiene advice - it’s not their job!
I’ve been a hygienist for over 20 years for many different dentists and there’s not been one that I’d let near me for a clean
It’s not their job. It’s ours

I am down to 2 visits a year (unteil the hyginist says otherwise) and I have to use 4 different sizes of interdental brushes, floss and a toothbrush with a very small head at home - all written into my medical file at my dentist.
To be honest, my first ever visit was painful and took embarassingly long, but that was years ago.
Being over 18 I have to pay for the visits myself, so I have invested in additional insurance for my teeth (not in NHS area)

I think a lot of dentist have stopped doing it and are referring to the hygienist which is more money for the practice. I do believe it is meant to be part of the nhs basic treatment. Perhaps I am just a sceptic, I have had a problem with an NHS dentist advising expensive unnecessary work so my judgement is clouded.

I am on a dental plan and 4 a year are included. I had just got comfortable with the hygienist (after 5 years) and they get a new one who was very blunt and a bit condescending so I am a bit put out at the moment.

It is £75 each time at our dentist. Dentist doesn't say I have to go either.We do have basic insurance which pays back £35 a year for the hygienist. Still not keen though.

Also I know how to use the flosses etc as they went through that last time.

I'd say it depends on how healthy your gums are. The dentist scores them when you have a check up. If you are scoring zero and ones probably not that important to see The hygienist but if 2 or more then I would go.

The better your dental hygiene routine the less it hurts ime. Also some hygienists are way better than others.