Refused NHS scale & polish, need to pay for hygienist?

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Has anyone else had this?
I'm 24 weeks, had my check up on Monday, changed dentist as my old practice is still not taking appointments since before covid
She said I have tartar & plaque which I knew and said I need to go to the hygienist, I asked at the reception can I have that as a scale & polish by the dentist & she said no, you need the hygienist which is £50
My previous practice said the same thing at my last appointment just before covid started, and wouldn't do the scale & polish. I never ended up getting my teeth cleaned, I could have just gone to the hygienist last year as they were taking appointments
What is the point of the maternity exemption then? I thought it was more important during pregnancy for good dental care, has anyone else had this?

Are you joking? I didn't plan pregnancy, what a ridiculous suggestion

Okay, so if you think it’s so important, why didn’t you have it done the first time it was suggested to you? You just said the money isn’t an issue.

From the NHS website (www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/what-dental-services-are-available-on-the-nhs/#:~:text=Hygienists%20can%20only%20provide%20this,to%20pay%20for%20it%20privately.):

If your dentist says scaling is clinically required, this is available on the NHS.

This can be provided by a hygienist or dental therapist.

A simple scaling is included in a Band 1 course of treatment, but more complex treatment for gum problems may be charged within a Band 2 course of treatment.

Many dental hygienists now work under direct access, where you can request to see the hygienist directly for a scale or polish.

Hygienists can only provide this open access on a private basis, and you should check the cost of the treatment before booking an appointment.

If your dentist says a scale and polish is not clinically necessary but you want one anyway, you will have to pay for it privately.

Dentists may sometimes do a scale and polish if it's straightforward and simple, but sounds like you just left it and then expected it free because you're pregnant. If it's not clinically necessary, then the dentist doesn't need to do it on the NHS.

I'm on benefits and get free dental care and I get a scale and polish after every check up , every three months. I have underlying dry mouth syndrome though so not sure if that is why?

@inmyslippers I have denplan which covers me for a check up and hygienist every 6 months. About £20pm so it works out similar to just paying but covers me for any other work too

If you’ve got a build up of tartar and plaque then you haven’t been cleaning your teeth properly. Covid is irrelevant; it isn’t your dentists job to clean your teeth.

Not true. Some people will have a build up of tartar even with meticulous cleaning. I have really good teeth for my age (first filling at 47). My cleaning is not at fault but I have to have the tartar removed.

I haven’t been with an NHS dentist for years but I’m pretty sure when I was I would have to pay for my scales and polish (around £20?). I pay for denplan now and have mine done every 6 months but also go to a hygienist once a year for a thorough clean: if your dentist won’t do it and you have plaque go to the hygienist. The money paid is worth it as they do a much deeper clean than the dentist will do.. they completely turned around my gum health after two pregnancies.

@emilyfrost

Are you joking? I didn't plan pregnancy, what a ridiculous suggestion

Okay, so if you think it’s so important, why didn’t you have it done the first time it was suggested to you? You just said the money isn’t an issue.

Not sure why I have to explain myself when I have already stated in my original post I had a check up last February, where I had a filling on the NHS but he would not do a scale & polish and told me to book the hygienist. Covid started and this practice wasn't taking appointments and still is not (though it has since transpired their hygienist was still working the whole year) No dentists where I live we're taking on new patients or appointments I am now pregnant and have moved, changed dentist, I booked this appointment four months ago and was surprised the same thing has happened whereby they don't do scale & polish anymore. I did not go to the hygienist as I was just waiting for my checkup. I did not become pregnant to get free treatment or plan it Then it should be removed from the bands stated on the NHS website if this is something that has changed, as 2 years ago it was normal at every practice I went to Teeth are largely due to genetics even with good dental care at home & electric toothbrush some people are more prone to these issues, including pregnancy can make the issue worse. As it happens I had maternity exemption at my appointment last year due to 2 pregnancies in a row so maybe this has caused my teeth to take a battering It's not about money it's about principle, I was asking if this is the norm now and it seems it is

I was confused about this too. I had always been able to have a scale and polish at my dentist check-up (I am on benefits).

Last time I went they said I would have to pay over £40 for it, which I couldn't afford, so I went without.

@MsHedgehog

From the NHS website (www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/what-dental-services-are-available-on-the-nhs/#:~:text=Hygienists%20can%20only%20provide%20this,to%20pay%20for%20it%20privately.):

If your dentist says scaling is clinically required, this is available on the NHS.

This can be provided by a hygienist or dental therapist.

A simple scaling is included in a Band 1 course of treatment, but more complex treatment for gum problems may be charged within a Band 2 course of treatment.

Many dental hygienists now work under direct access, where you can request to see the hygienist directly for a scale or polish.

Hygienists can only provide this open access on a private basis, and you should check the cost of the treatment before booking an appointment.

If your dentist says a scale and polish is not clinically necessary but you want one anyway, you will have to pay for it privately.

Dentists may sometimes do a scale and polish if it's straightforward and simple, but sounds like you just left it and then expected it free because you're pregnant. If it's not clinically necessary, then the dentist doesn't need to do it on the NHS.

Incorrect assumption

I've always had to pay for hygienist, even on the NHS. It's around £70.

@mariebaby3

I haven’t been with an NHS dentist for years but I’m pretty sure when I was I would have to pay for my scales and polish (around £20?). I pay for denplan now and have mine done every 6 months but also go to a hygienist once a year for a thorough clean: if your dentist won’t do it and you have plaque go to the hygienist. The money paid is worth it as they do a much deeper clean than the dentist will do.. they completely turned around my gum health after two pregnancies.

Thank you very much, I will definitely be going with denplan now. I have had 3 pregnancies in quick succession (one of which a miscarriage) and breastfeeding I think this has really affected my teeth

I would be pissed off too OP. Any clinically necessary treatment should be done under NHS. It doesn't really matter what band it is, as you are maternity exempt. If it is for cosmetic reasons only they should have made it absolutely clear that it is cosmetic at the time they made the original recommendation.

@inmyslippers It is called Practice Plan and it is £18.50 (not £17) a month). Scale and polish every 3 months and dental check up 6 monthly.

but the polish was used with cotton wool as they cannot use the polisher.

I had the polisher a couple of days ago.

[quote felineflutter]@inmyslippers It is called Practice Plan and it is £18.50 (not £17) a month). Scale and polish every 3 months and dental check up 6 monthly.[/quote]
Is this a set fee or is the fee based on the condition of your teeth? I will have a look at this now

@inmyslippers The dentist did look at my teeth but as I said I have terrible gum recession between two lower teeth at the front from a third pregnancy which caused swollen gums.

This wasn't treated properly by a previous NHS dentist. I have to see the hygienist every 3 months or my gums will start to pocket. If I keep on top of them they are healthy and no further recession will occur.

@cantthinkofaname2021 sorry that post for you too

Incorrect assumption

I mean, you admit that you didn't go to the hygienist for a year even though it was open...and your OP is annoyed that your maternity exception card doesn't give you a free scale and polish, so not sure what part of my post is an "incorrect assumption"

@MsHedgehog

Incorrect assumption

I mean, you admit that you didn't go to the hygienist for a year even though it was open...and your OP is annoyed that your maternity exception card doesn't give you a free scale and polish, so not sure what part of my post is an "incorrect assumption"

I since responded that it transpired they were open, I didnt know at the time

I get scale and polish when I go to my NHS dentist and just pay the fee for the examination so can't see why op couldn't have it.

So I work in a dentist. If the dentist has advised you need a scale and polish, then it is indeed clinically necessary. A scale and polish is included (if necessary) within your examination appointment as a band 1 treatment.
A build up of calculus isn’t purely due to lack of oral hygiene as a previous poster has mentioned. Most people have a routine clean every 6 months. Particularly being pregnant, it’s important to maintain your oral health so I would push for a clean with the dentist. If your clean was for cosmetic reasons only then fair enough, they can charge you for the hygienist, but not if it’s clinically necessary.

@Nat4392

So I work in a dentist. If the dentist has advised you need a scale and polish, then it is indeed clinically necessary. A scale and polish is included (if necessary) within your examination appointment as a band 1 treatment. A build up of calculus isn’t purely due to lack of oral hygiene as a previous poster has mentioned. Most people have a routine clean every 6 months. Particularly being pregnant, it’s important to maintain your oral health so I would push for a clean with the dentist. If your clean was for cosmetic reasons only then fair enough, they can charge you for the hygienist, but not if it’s clinically necessary.

Thank you very much for your reply So if the dentist says I need to see the hygienist for a scale & polish, does this mean it is deemed 'clinically necessary'? As I don't think it is for cosmetic reasons

My hygienist appointment is tomorrow lunchtime which I'm going ahead with but I will discuss this again

I'm not a dentist but I can't see how a build up of tartar & plaque would not be deemed necessary for a clean. A build up can lead to gum disease so while it's 'appearance' may be purely cosmetic, the treatment of it should be clinically necessary to prevent gingivitis and further issues later down the line. Gum disease for me caused recession and pockets in my gums, which ultimately the hygienist helped halt so I would never be without her but your NHS dentist should still treat it.

@mariebaby3

I'm not a dentist but I can't see how a build up of tartar & plaque would not be deemed necessary for a clean. A build up can lead to gum disease so while it's 'appearance' may be purely cosmetic, the treatment of it should be clinically necessary to prevent gingivitis and further issues later down the line. Gum disease for me caused recession and pockets in my gums, which ultimately the hygienist helped halt so I would never be without her but your NHS dentist should still treat it.

Yes, I agree with this