Jump to content

Recommended Posts

What services do dental hygienists provide beyond what you can pay for on the state? It's many years since my state dentist referred me to one. I get a scale and polish as part of my routine check. I did some work on dentistry years ago, meeting dentists and trade/professional groups, and then it was argued by some that even a scale and polish didn't actually benefit the oral health of the patient. I managed to get into the habit of flossing a few years ago which has helped both the gums receding and cavities. Other simple tips, do not let sweet drinks and juice linger in the mouth, and when you clean your teeth don't wash your mouth out afterwards. Let the flouride toothpaste do its job. All of that was from dental professionals not word of mouth (ho ho).

A common view amongs many involved in the profession not my own dentist. My wonderful dentist gives me a scale and polish, I tend not to say "do you really need to do this, there is some evidence that it isn't particularly useful', and it is part of my check up. A previous dentist used to scowl and tell me that I'd been drinking too much tea and red wine.


My dentist is a similar age and went through the save level of poor dental hygiene (eg Ribena, that rotted many kids teeth in the 60s to 80s), one of the water companies that did't put flouride in the water, and drill and fill unnecessary intervention by state dentists. The latter is no longer a practice. All four of us kids over 15 years when to the same butcher who did dentistry from a caravan in the playground twice a year. Fortunately kids have better advice, better oral hygiene and better preventive dentistry now. Nice comparison of similar metropolitan areas with and without flouride - Birmingham vs Bolton, 50% more cavities in the latter.


https://bfsweb.org/download/1399/benefits-of-fluoridation/14pKaIyAZbTPp6K6f3USVroFqBaVsTW40/Fifty%20years%20of%20water%20fluoridation%20in%20Birmingham%202014

We left Smile some time ago as they were constantly pushing cosmetic products - unfortunately hubby fell for this and agreed to tooth whitening and was shocked when he was charged over ?200. He never used the product - also he was not informed of the cost of the treatment before he started it.

I pay ?95 for a 45 minute hygienist session and I think that's fair in the current circumstances where the room and equipment is sanitised after each patient. Because of the cleaning, each hygienist is able to treat a reduced number of patients.


There is also the cost of PPI equipment which is necessary now.


I consider ?95 good value and money well spent.

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I get my scale and polish under tier 1 charges.

>

> If your private dentists misinforms you you can

> (and should) complain. They have codes of

> practice, complaints procedures and ultimately

> this can be considered by the General Dental

> Council



Did you mean NHS Dentist? I had no idea that scale and polishes were still available under Tier 1.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • I recently hired Andy to paint the newly plastered walls in my front room, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. From the start, he offered a fair and reasonable price for the work, and his professionalism really stood out. Andy has a wealth of experience and was happy to share suggestions about colour choices and paint types, which made the decision-making process much easier. He completed the work within the agreed timescale, and I am very happy with the finish.Ā  What impressed me most is that Andy went above and beyond what I initially asked. He not only painted the room beautifully but also helped with extra tasks such as putting up the wall bracket, curtain poles, and curtains, and even gave me a hand moving furniture between rooms. That level of support is rare and very much appreciated. If you’re looking for a painter and decorator who is reliable, trustworthy, reasonably priced, experienced, and willing to go the extra mile to help, I would highly recommend Andy.
    • John recently skimmed the walls in our front room lounge, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result. From start to finish, he was professional, punctual, and easy to work with. Ā  He arrived on time each day and kept me updated on progress, which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. The quality of his plastering is smooth, even, and ready to paint with minimal prep. He takes real pride in his work. Ā  John was also very tidy, laying down protective sheets and cleaning up thoroughly after the job was done. It’s clear he respects his clients’ homes, which I really appreciated. Ā  On top of that, he’s friendly, approachable, and trustworthy someone you feel comfortable having in your home. His pricing was fair and transparent, with no unexpected costs. Ā  Highly recommended if you're looking for a skilled and reliable plasterer. I’ll definitely be using him again for any future work.
    • You what???Ā  Ā Think you Should have gone to woodfalls 😁 
    • Your second point contradicts your first (and previous post)
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
Ɨ
Ɨ
  • Create New...