NHS dentist - does yours scale & polish?

[Starrydream]

At a standard check-up appointment does your NHS dentist scale & polish your teeth?

According to the NHS website this is included in Band 1 treatment (£25.80), but my dentist literally checks my teeth for cavities and that’s it. He done absolutely nothing else whatsoever for the past 9 years.

I have always been told to see the hygienist if I want to but their price has gone from £45 pre-Covid to £87. This is for a 30-minute appointment but I am in/out in 8-10 mins as I only ever have superficial staining (from too much tea) on 3 front teeth, and a tiny bit of plaque sometimes.

It’s got me thinking following a conversation with two people today who say their dentist has always scraped and cleaned their teeth during a standard Band 1 appointment and they never see a hygienist (they have lovely white, clean-looking teeth too).

What are other people’s experiences please?

Mine will very minimally remove small amounts of plaque but if I want the full works I have to pay for the hygienist I think it's fairly common.

No, it has been a separate thing for years now.

Waiting for the accusations of a stealth boast because you have a NHS dentist, 😁

Not included but if the dentist refers me to the hygienist it's around £40 instead of the usual £75

My NHS dentist used to do it every check up but then it changed after Covod and now l have to pay the hygienist £60 a time. Probably still cheaper than going private l guess

Yes mine does. I think I may be their only nhs patient though, the receptionist always seems surprised. I’ve been a patient of theirs since they started work there in the late 80’s.

Not necessarily I'm afraid to say.

My private hygienist is £40. And she's phenomenal.

Mine used to but he has sadly resigned 😔

Mine used to but then they got brought out by much bigger very corporate company. My lovely dentist left and now I have one who just counts my teeth and tries to upsell. He does the same with the kids too.

They used to before COVID then said they weren't allowed to do it during COVID and it has never been reinstated

When I was last able to see mine 2 years ago he said they only do it if clinically necessary. Not just to satisfy my desire for shiny teeth.

Mine does, we are nhs patients. My kids hate it but it’s my favourite part 😂

Always used to but now it’s a cursory glance and £70 for the hygienist.

Funnily enough I went to the dentist today and asked exactly this-next time I book in, can I please have a S&P.
Receptionist told me they only do it if the dentist considers it "clinically necessary"

Cost me £25 and I was literally in the seat for 35 seconds, then back out again

Mine always does it. Nhs patient

My dentist always used to as I only have a tiny amount of tartar, now I get referred to the private hygienist which is 75 quid. I am going to challenge it actually if it's included in Band 1.

Since Covid its only if there's a clinical need

No they don't.

They used to, but haven't done so for years and years.

Odd the covid connection. I wonder what the reasoning is.

I’ve never had a scale and polish

No, never has. The hygienist is private and costs around £45.

Off topic but can you get numbed for tartar removal? My teeth are soooo sensitive and I have tarter that I need removed and I'm terrified of the pain

Ask for numbing gel. Dentists will have it and it does work.

Mine always does, NHS dentist. He’s absolutely brilliant.

Where are people finding hygienists for £45? Anyone I've spoken to before says it's £60-70 no matter where you are in the country.

No S&P. Teeth check with X-rays.
For the full clean it’s the hygienist, which I think is now £60 odd (used to be £45 until v recently).