£60 for cleaning teeth at the dentist for a 17 year old

[temmy99]

I can't remember the last time i have visited the dentist since my experience has just been counting of my teeth and sending me on my way I just stopped bothering to go. My DD said she was going for a check up and i didnt pay too much attention to it until she came back and said it wasnt cheap. I thought she was joking until she said she was charged £60 to have her teeth cleaned and was also asked to return for some more cleaning but she said she will think about it as she could not afford it. I thought dental treatments were free for under 19 year olds and still in full time education. She said she was seen by a hygienist rather than a dentist. She is at the age where she doesnt want me to be tagging along with her but what would have happened if she didnt have the money on her to pay? I am just looking for more information on dental treatments as I am clearly out of date on this. Thank you

Hygienist treatments / cleaning not free even for DC. £60 sounds standard.

She could help herself with good oral hygiene: electric toothbrush, flossing etc.

Sounds about right. I believe that the NHS doesn't provide a hygienist appointment. I pay £70 for an hour with the hygienist.

Thank you for your replies, i have not visited a dentist for over 15 years so this is the first time have heard of a hygienist. I dont think dd was aware of this either as she has very good teeth and thought she was just going for a check up at the dentist. I guess i now know for next time

She should have been given the option to decline the treatment!

Have you ever taken her to the dentist?

@Tallace

Have you ever taken her to the dentist?

This. If you stopped going when they stopped counting your teeth, how old are you and when did you last go?

This is an explanation of NHS charges:

"A standard clean is covered by Band 1 at £22.70. A more thorough deep clean is shifted up to Band 2 (£62.10)."

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-much-are-nhs-dental-charges

Did they tell her beforehand that it would cost £60?

If not, I wouldn’t be happy. I know I’ll get flamed for this on Mumsnet but she’s 17 and young. They should have stated to her explicitly how much it would cost.

In my practice a dentist appointment and a hygienist appointment are separate appointments. Did your dd know that's what she was going for. Everything is booked in advance and not on the day.

Hygienist appointments everyone pays for as it's private treatment. I pay £50 for half an hour, so that sounds about right.

@Tallace, I havent taken her to the dentist for a while but her dad has been taken her and it has been the usual 'check teeth, come back 3 months' time' but we have not been charged for this. @FloggingMoll I am 50+ and good teeth tend to run in the family as my 80+ dad still has all his teeth and not a single filling which is why I have not been bothering. @shemadeit i can't really say whether she was told beforehand but knowing her, because she was already there, she would sheepishly just pay up. @ChristmasFluff thank you for the info. there is no way she would have needed a deep clean, she generally has good teeth but now she knows too, that it doesnt come cheap

I mean if she needs 2 appointments with the hygenist at 17 she doesnt have good teeth

It depends firstly if she is seen on the NHS, treatment is only free if you are under 18 if you see an NHS dentist, and secondly depends what the treatment was sometimes a clean is band 2 if its deeper and if its taking 2 visits thats more than a band 1 scale and polish.

Shr must have known she was going to the hygenist not the dentist? You dont just go to the hygenist, you have to book in and normally see the dentist first unless its a regular arrangement. A hygenist is normally private

Also with all due respect if you havent been to the dentist in 15 years you dont know if youve got good teeth.

Just because your 80 yr old dad has no filings doesnt mean you will.

[quote temmy99]**@Tallace, I havent taken her to the dentist for a while but her dad has been taken her and it has been the usual 'check teeth, come back 3 months' time' but we have not been charged for this. @FloggingMoll I am 50+ and good teeth tend to run in the family as my 80+ dad still has all his teeth and not a single filling which is why I have not been bothering. @shemadeit i can't really say whether she was told beforehand but knowing her, because she was already there, she would sheepishly just pay up. @ChristmasFluff thank you for the info. there is no way she would have needed a deep clean, she generally has good teeth but now she knows too, that it doesnt come cheap[/quote]
Iim my experience it is standard to go every 6months-year.

If they are calling her back every 3 months, it sounds there may be an issue with her teeth.

@temmy99 that’s a wee lesson for her to ask beforehand. I feel sorry for her though, I think back to being 17 myself and it’s young.

3 momth recalls are for high risk patients

Basically people with lots of decay or gum disease or poor hygeine

I thought dental treatment was free for under 18. My dd 14 doesn’t pay. Neither did we pay for ds’s orthodontist.

Price is correct.

As an aside, my dentist didn’t advise I see a hygienist until I was 33. Having to see one at 17, and check ups 3 months apart, your daughter has bad teeth.
I would also suggest seeing a dentist more regularly yourself. Prevention is better than cure

Check ups every 3 months say there is something wrong with her teeth/gums. She needs to pay attention and make note of what they are saying/booking her in for.

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I thought dental treatment was free for under 18. My dd 14 doesn’t pay. Neither did we pay for ds’s orthodontist.

Basic treatment is free, the hygienist is extra.

OP, if she's being asked to come back every three months, there may be problems with her teeth. Standard is every six months.

I just said 3 months hypothetically for a check up as i cant remember from the top of my head how frequently the check ups are. DD has gone out so I have not been able to ask her what exactly was said. She booked herself in for a clean, she wasnt called or sent any letter about any concern for her teeth. She started working part time in January so she tends to do things on impulse. Just a couple of weeks ago she said she had block booked driving lessons and had booked her theory test. Thank you everyone for your replies. @shemadeit she has already brushed it off!!! I am the one feeling guilty for her. I think i will give her back the money to ease my conscience.

Ok. I'm a dentist. All check ups are recorded comprehensively in the notes so they will have a full record of the exam. It is worth calling them to get more info, which will help you decide if the treatment was justified. You should ask to check what her BPE scores were. Sounds a bit concerning that more than one hygienist appointments required. Does she have bleeding gums? Or bad breath?
Here is a guide to the BPE. Those appointments won't have been made for no reason ( hopefully)

https://www.bsperio.org.uk/publications/downloads/1151706011a1150900488bsp-bpe-guidelines-2019.pdf

£60 is pretty standard for a hygiene appointment. However NHS treatment hasn't really started back up again yet due to Covid. Private treatment is starting to happen, however enhanced PPE is required, at a hugely increased cost. If an ultrasonic scaler is being used by the hygienist, the the PPE costs for hygienist/nurse are probably in the region of £40/50...

However most practices would automatically treat all those under the age of 18 as NHS. Here in Scotland under 18s get free treatment.

In short, that's a fair charge for hygienist.

Your daughter probably has a gun problem and you need to find out more in order to support her

As under 18 I would be questioning why she has had to pay privately and how much notice they gave her of this

In my experience dentists will always tell you you need a clean with the hygienist, it’s how they make their money.

Personally, I don’t think so many checks ups are necessary, it’s just part of a dentists business model. We don’t go to the GP to have a medical check up every few months, so why are we supposed to have dental ones all the time?

Nailsneeddoing if you check the link below it will give you an idea how it works.
Basic summary. If you score a BPE of 0 or 1, you don't need a scale. Score of 2 probably means plaque/tartar/possibly some bleeding and you would benefit from a scale.
Score of 3 in any quadrant if your mouth is a bit concerning as means you have a bit of pocketing where the gum becomes detached from the tooth. This could lead to further complications if not dealt with. Score of 4 means periodontal disease, mobility possible loss of teeth.
These scores are recorded regularly at examination. They can be checked and audited if ever required. Scales aren't just to line a dentist's pocket. They are very important if the scores justify that they are required. It is negligent to not record the scores, and it is negligent to not offer a scale or more intense perio treatment when a problem is flagged up.
It is taken very seriously and not just done for the fun of it.
You are, of course, well within your rights to refuse treatment of you want

@totalitarian thank you for this, it has been really helpful. I have spoken to DD and she said that she went for a check up last September at the Dentist and was given the standard 6 months to check back but was advised to do this with the hygienist. She called the practice last week and asked if she could book an appointment with the hygienist and was told it will cost £60. She made the payment over the phone and went in today. She said she was given a deep clean today but was advised to come back in 3 or 6 weeks time but she didnt really pay attention as she was told it will cost her another £60. I think it might be better if I contact them myself to fully understand the charges. She does not have bleeding gums I have asked her.

As a general rule under 18s don't get scales under nhs. Dentist must have deemed your child's needed a scale to maintain her dental health. She would have been told the cost prior to treatment and consented to it. No treatments carried out without a patients consent. I would be more concerned as to the state of her gingivitis health and why it was required. If u are concerned why don't you get her to ring up the dentist and get her to consent to them discussing with you her treatment plan that way you can be involved. 17 is considered an adult.