Asked for Dental NHS Scale and Polish.Told "Go to Hygienist at £25 extra"

The_One_Who

akh43 wrote: »

Although the sensitive toothpaste does not get rid of the pain if I stop using for more than a few days the pain does get worse so maybe it does slightly lessen it.

Although I am not a dentist, I have always been under the impression that that is how these toothpastes work. They don't solve the sensitivity, just mask it. They provide a sort of numbing for the tooth, but as soon as you stop using the toothpaste the pain will return. It's something you would need to be using regularly.

I pay £10 for my hygienist treatment, but then I'm in Scotland.

brook2jack

The problem with sensitivity treatment is most people don't use the toothpastes properly.

Don't rinse out after using them just spit, otherwise you are just washing the stuff down the sink.

Last thing at night rub it into the sensitive teeth and leave it on so it has a chance to build up a layer.

brook2jack

welshdent wrote: »

Regardless of any other factors, the band 3 charge WILL cover treatment for gum disease.It's highly unlikely you will get to see the hygienist for NHS treatment as the dentist would have to pay for that AND the crown they are making out of the cash limited course of treatment they are providing. .... they wont. You MAY also find that the dentist is unable to numb you up for a full mouth clean up due to the resources being limited. I am not saying they will but I do know of some practices that would not do full mouth periodontal treatment with local anaesthetic on the NHS because they would view it as not strictly necessary. Seeing the hygienist privately would factor these additonal costs in already. I know I would not be able to offer for example multiple periodontal treatment visits with anaesthetic. Possibly a single vists but no more.

Many dentists left the NHS after the 2006 contract because we could not see how we could offer the same service that we had before without going bankrupt.

The lie is that the government tells you that all treatment necessary is available on the NHS when it is clearly not. NHS has severe restrictions and the only people who are aware of it are the patients and practitioners.

Pre 2006 on the NHS we routinely sent people to the hygienist, we routinely gave anaesthetic where needed for periodontal treament and we routinely gave multiple appointments for periodontal "gum" problems. We still do the above but are now a mostly private practice as a result of being unable to practice dentistry in the way we think is right. One of the most depressing things I have heard for a while is that dentistry is so little valued that

a) practitioners are cutting costs to the bone to stay "NHS" so much that even local anaesthetic can be considered not necessary,and treatments which are supposed to be available, but would bankrupt them if offered on the NHS, are not.

b) patients automatic response is to get as much as possible for as little possible and their default position is that the dentist is out to "rip them off".

Both attitudes are equally corrosive when the ideal for dental health is to find a dentist you like and trust who is operating in a system where you are both sure that the treatment you are offered is everything that is necessary to help you maintain your dental health.

akh43

welshdent wrote: »

I find they are all very individual. Ask your dentist if they have any seal and protect, I find that works well in sensitivity cases.

Is this a toothpaste or a coating? I think my dentist has previously put a coating on some of my teeth previously to try and help. I will ask when I next go.

brook2jack wrote: »

The problem with sensitivity treatment is most people don't use the toothpastes properly.

Don't rinse out after using them just spit, otherwise you are just washing the stuff down the sink.

Last thing at night rub it into the sensitive teeth and leave it on so it has a chance to build up a layer.

This is how I use my toothpaste, I was told many years ago by a dentist not to rinse and also to rub it on the teeth overnight. I also sleep with a guard on my bottom teeth, due to grinding of teeth, and this keeps the toothpaste in place all night on the bottom ones.

welshdent

akh43 wrote: »

Is this a toothpaste or a coating? I think my dentist has previously put a coating on some of my teeth previously to try and help. I will ask when I next go.



.

Its a coating

Apollonia

boozercruiser wrote: »

Thank you for joining the 'thread'.

Well then, I would think that you sound the classic of my whole point that your so called 'Hygenist' for £25 is a total 'Rip Off'.

Can I refer you back to your post #43, my response at post #46 and your reply at #52?

Yes, it is the phrase "so called hygienist" I object to -again. Like it or not, the profession of dental hygienist has been recognised in the UK since 1949.

Just because YOU have a problem with the dental practice YOU choose to use does not mean that all dental hygienists or practices offering the service are some sort of scam or rip-off!! The current NHS contract makes no provision for preventive treatments, only treatment for disease which is already present.

You occasionally mention your previous 'English' dentist who performed all the scales & polishes you needed - that is totally irrelevant to the current situation because he would have been working under the old NHS contract.

I would also like to point out that your saintly 'English dentist' may not have been doing as good a job* as a despised "so-called hygienist" - I have seen countless patients who have always had a dentist 'clean' their teeth in the past 20+ years. Yes, beautifully polished tartar deposits!!! But because the stain has gone, the patient thinks that their teeth are clean. Guess what? Six months later the teeth need cleaning again - ie the stain is back. And the underlying problem has not been solved.

I have lost count of the number of 'first-time visit to the hygienist' patients who are amazed at the difference between a professional hygienist scale & polish and what their dentist always used to do.

Do you ever read any of the other dentally related threads on this board? If you do, can I respectfully inform you that your dentists are morally and ethically obligated to offer you the best possible treatments available. If the practice has a hygienist available and that is the best standard they can offer they HAVE TO offer it. Do you really want your dentist to make socio-economic judgements about you?

"We have a hygienist available but better not mention it, he probably can't afford it!"

Is that what you want? Hygienist treatment is a speciality - if your dentist said you need root canal treatment and that the odds of success with him are 20% but you could be referred to see welshdent (;)) down the road where the odds are 95% (but you have to pay privately for welshdent), the choice is then in you hands.

It is a similar situation with your gum disease - treatment is available on the NHS contract but the best outcome may be via the private route. Your foreign dentists may have difficulty explaining this concept. It's difficult enough getting this concept across on a message board!

I realise that this has become a bit of a rant but this whole thread seems to be going round in circles now.

This whole thread could be summed up quite simply:

1.YES, you are entitled to a scale & polish/perio treatment under the NHS contract IF NECESSARY. It is the dentist who decides what is necessary, not the patient.

2. NHS treatment is not always either the cheapest or the best option for continuing dental health.

3. Dentists who provide clinically unnecessary treatments on the NHS contract could face criminal charges of fraud.

4. Dentists who do not offer a choice of treatment options could be accused of failing to maintain professional standards by the General Dental Council.



*disclaimer: your dentist may have been doing a perfectly good job, I have no way of knowing!

.. and breathe...

boozercruiser

Apollonia wrote: »

Can I refer you back to your post #43, my response at post #46 and your reply at #52?

Yes, it is the phrase "so called hygienist" I object to -again. Like it or not, the profession of dental hygienist has been recognised in the UK since 1949.

Just because YOU have a problem with the dental practice YOU choose to use does not mean that all dental hygienists or practices offering the service are some sort of scam or rip-off!! The current NHS contract makes no provision for preventive treatments, only treatment for disease which is already present.

You occasionally mention your previous 'English' dentist who performed all the scales & polishes you needed - that is totally irrelevant to the current situation because he would have been working under the old NHS contract.

I would also like to point out that your saintly 'English dentist' may not have been doing as good a job* as a despised "so-called hygienist" - I have seen countless patients who have always had a dentist 'clean' their teeth in the past 20+ years. Yes, beautifully polished tartar deposits!!! But because the stain has gone, the patient thinks that their teeth are clean. Guess what? Six months later the teeth need cleaning again - ie the stain is back. And the underlying problem has not been solved.

I have lost count of the number of 'first-time visit to the hygienist' patients who are amazed at the difference between a professional hygienist scale & polish and what their dentist always used to do.

Do you ever read any of the other dentally related threads on this board? If you do, can I respectfully inform you that your dentists are morally and ethically obligated to offer you the best possible treatments available. If the practice has a hygienist available and that is the best standard they can offer they HAVE TO offer it. Do you really want your dentist to make socio-economic judgements about you?

"We have a hygienist available but better not mention it, he probably can't afford it!"

Is that what you want? Hygienist treatment is a speciality - if your dentist said you need root canal treatment and that the odds of success with him are 20% but you could be referred to see welshdent (;)) down the road where the odds are 95% (but you have to pay privately for welshdent), the choice is then in you hands.

It is a similar situation with your gum disease - treatment is available on the NHS contract but the best outcome may be via the private route. Your foreign dentists may have difficulty explaining this concept. It's difficult enough getting this concept across on a message board!

I realise that this has become a bit of a rant but this whole thread seems to be going round in circles now.

This whole thread could be summed up quite simply:

1.YES, you are entitled to a scale & polish/perio treatment under the NHS contract IF NECESSARY. It is the dentist who decides what is necessary, not the patient.

2. NHS treatment is not always either the cheapest or the best option for continuing dental health.

3. Dentists who provide clinically unnecessary treatments on the NHS contract could face criminal charges of fraud.

4. Dentists who do not offer a choice of treatment options could be accused of failing to maintain professional standards by the General Dental Council.



*disclaimer: your dentist may have been doing a perfectly good job, I have no way of knowing!

.. and breathe...

Well then, I would be up all night if I tried to 'take you on' with all of your actually very valid points.

But with great respect...you would say all of the above would't you?
After all...it is your job. Your living that you are defending and I detect that you quite irritated now by the whole thread.

ME? I am just a Dental patient who believes that under MY condition with some gum disease that a Scale and Polish carried out by my Dentist under the NHS will suffice and so avoid the £28 Hygenist charge.

On reflection I accept that my use of the words 'Scam' and 'Rip Off' are a little OTT and no offence at all was meant towards the Profession of Hygenist who I am sure do a very good job indeed. And I am sorry if I have upset you in any way shape or form. By the way, I see that you feel the post is going around in circles. I don't.
In any case, this post has had over 18,000 'views' so there are an awfull lot of people who are interested in this particular subject.

However, I do feel that there are an lot of people who are told "You need to see the Hygenist" at around £30 a pop....when the Dentist should really be dealing with the patients problems either with a Scale and Polish or even more as outlined in the NHS regulations for the various Bands:-
SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 4(2)
Band 2 Charges - Treatment
(a) non-surgical periodontal treatment including root-planing, deep scaling, irrigation of periodontal pockets and subgingival curettage and all necessary scaling and polishing


Best Regards to you Apollonia.

Boozercruiser.

Scatter_cat

My first posting. Please be gentle! I have a swollen right cheek, told I have a dental abcess and nerve root recommended. I was given antibiotics the week prior to this for the abcess but was unable to take due to allergic reaction. I have since been fairly immunocompromised oral thrush etc. Not nice. I did not complete the antibiotic course. Is it wise to go ahead straight away with the nerve root or to wait until my body has recovered a little. My cheek is swollen so do not want to delay too long but do not want the infection to worsen or spread either. Thankyou for any advice you can give me!

brook2jack

Contact and ask your dentist. If you really are allergic to the antibiotic it is very important they know and they will advise you further.

boozercruiser

Scatter_cat wrote: »

My first posting. Please be gentle! I have a swollen right cheek, told I have a dental abcess and nerve root recommended. I was given antibiotics the week prior to this for the abcess but was unable to take due to allergic reaction. I have since been fairly immunocompromised oral thrush etc. Not nice. I did not complete the antibiotic course. Is it wise to go ahead straight away with the nerve root or to wait until my body has recovered a little. My cheek is swollen so do not want to delay too long but do not want the infection to worsen or spread either. Thankyou for any advice you can give me!

I know nothing to advise you, and I do sympathise with you, but the advice above looks good.

Being gentle with you though, I think I can safely say that you are not yet ready for a Scale and Polish!:)