How often do you go to the dental hygienist?

[DoTheNextRightThing]

My dentist says I should be visiting the hygienist every 6 months - but I'm reluctant to pay £25 twice a year to get a scale and polish. At my previous dental practice, I only went when they said they needed done. My teeth are really good condition, and I don't drink anything which would stain them. Do you think I need to go every 6 months? How often do you go?

6 months. £50! Went last Friday to find new, incompetent hygienist whose hand slipped and cut my lip. Apology? No. Giggle? Yes. Looking for new dentist.

My NHS dental practice changed and now only offers private hygienist appointments. I think they cost about £48 🙄
I see the dentist and hygienist every 6 months, although at my last appointment the (new) dentist told me, in future, my routine check ups need only be every 9 months.

I have never been to a hygenist, none of my family have either. My (private) dentist has never said I need to go. I see my dentist once a year, and he does a quick descale and polish, job done. I think unless you have specific issues, many of these proscribed visits are money making exercises.

Every 3 month at £45 a time. I had bad gum disease from not going for 17 years and needed lots of work. They are now much improved but I need to maintain them to keep them as healthy as possible so as not to lose any more teeth. A necessary expense I'm afraid.

Can someone please tell me what they usually do, my dentist has been recommending i visit the hygienist too and i've never been, nervous as i hate the dentists and have heard the hygienist can hurt

If that was true, people in 3rd World countries would all have gum disease

Most 3rd world countries don't have diets laden with sugar and over processed food.

My early childhood was in West of Scotland. I have awful teeth - poor diet, poor dental hygiene. If I hadn't taken action as an adult I would likely have no teeth at all now. I am so proud my children have beautiful teeth.

I haven't been since I was 18 I have moved ten times in 6 years and just haven't been able to afford it. My teeth are in very good condition though thankfully, I've got no fillings or gum disease.

I go every 6 months, I’m on denplan which covers the hygienist twice a year, dental check up with the dentist twice a year, and covers any treatments I need doing (apart from root canal apparently). Costs me £26 a month. So worth it though!

My dentist charges €70 for a basic scale and polish! I was going to book the hygienist but a first appointment is €120, and I think it's 80 after that. I get it done once a year max but at £25 I would get it done twice a year if recommended.

I never go.
Have a routine dental check up every year and asked the dentist if I needed to see the hygienist and he said there was no need, as long as I carry on with the flossing and brushing.

Never.

I last went to the dentist in 1996. I then had three fluoride treatments at the maternity dentist's 9 years ago while pregnant. I haven't had my teeth checked since

44 yo, not a single filling, great teeth and gums. Early childhood spend in northern Scotland - like that makes a difference to a pp.

My parents took good care of my teeth and we take good care of our DS' , so hopefully he'll have teeth as good as mind he's an adult

Dental check up every 6 months, hygienist once a year-£50 a go. I have generally good teeth (although I had lots of fillings as a child) and no gum issues but I have a retainer and my mum had to have a lot of teeth taken out in her 50’s due to receding gums so I feel it’s quite important for me to invest in some preventative work. I’m 48.

People in 3rd world countries do often have gum disease? It's not an exclusive 1st world problem.

Everyone's gums are different, everyone has different amount of calculus build up and so everyone needs to go different amounts, if you have a history of gum disease you need to be going 3 monthly for example.

I get very little calculus build up however I still go roughly 6 monthly, because I don't want to risk gum disease, if I can feel any I want it off my teeth before I get inflammation or bone loss which is irreversible.

You don't necessarily have to visit the hygienist for a scale and polish, on the NHS for example the Dentist should be doing the scale and polish rather than making you pay for a private hygienist.

Have dental check ups regularly. Have never been to a hygienist.

I pay £99 a year and have 2 hygienist appointments ( dentist can do them too) and 2 check ups.
My gums are easily irritated so it's important to me! It's not just about teeth. My teeth are ok.

6 monthly costs £56

Every 6 months under denplan

Never

Due to high calcium levels I have strong teeth and vulnerable gums, so have ended up in a routine of dentist once a year and hygienist 3x per year.

It’s not all about home care. We all have different body chemistry.

Twice a year. I hate it. I think I dread it more than the dentist.

Three times a year. I used to have problems with bleeding gums when I brushed. Now that I floss regularly and go three times a year my gums are healthy. Think some people can get away with far less, and some like me really do need it.

@elQuintoConyo . West of Scotland is one of the worst areas in the UK for dental health and has been since the 60s. When I had my grading for my dental plan, the dentist (Lanarkshire) said I was a 3 which wasn't great, but pretty damn good for the area.

And not improving much according to this article

bda.org/news-centre/blog/complete-neglect-a-picture-of-children%E2%80%99s-oral-health-in-scotland-by-dentists

Every 6 months now!

£25 is a bargain OP!

Didn't go to a dentist for 11 years before that though- just had a lot of shame about my teeth.

I went for a scale and polish for the first time last week and I definitely notice the difference, I'd always been sceptical but actually I think it was worth it. If for no other reason than I can now floss/inter brush my teeth so much more easily (I have very close teeth anyway) and I am now as I get older starting to need more and more work done. I am going to make it a regular thing as I hope it will help prevent needing so much done in future.

(Plus the hygienist was lovely and didn't make me feel like my teeth were so awful like my horrible dentist does; all he does is upsell constantly for private treatment and it's horrible when you're skint and being warned about how much it will need to be in future)

I was told a few years ago that I have quite a high inflammatory response so I should go every 4 months.

That's fine, there was less to do so they charged less, as it would take 20 mins instead of 30 mins.

Today I went, I was in there for 15 minutes and they charged me £52! No discount for the shorter time. So I think I'm going to go every six months now as it is going to be massively expensive otherwise.