Teeth cleaning by hygienist - how much?

Torry_Quine

Had my teeth scraped and polished last month by my new NHS dentist and the cost was £10.08 which I thought was acceptable. My OH is a smoker so needed a more thorough clean which cost about £25 but that entitles him to another clean in three months without any further cost.

jugglebug

Toothsmith wrote: »

Cleaning preserves and maintains the health of the teeth and supporting structures.

Whitening 'makes them pretty'.

If only more people could understand this.
I don't know about you but I struggle to get my patients to understand exactly what care they are receiving from the hygienist.
I think they are receiving vital treatment, which will allow them to keep their teeth and gingivae healthy.
They think they are getting "just a clean"
There is no "JUST" to it at all.

Slowly I believe I am getting through to them but it is a long road, however I hope things will get better with the extended duties in that patients will realise that Hygienists are well qualified clinicians in their own right and not just some lass with a 'leccy toothbrush

geri1965_2

Mine charged me £30 when I needed a thorough clean (private) and if he scrapes them at the same time as looking at them it comes under the £16.20 NHS band 1 treatment (or whatever it's called!)

Toothsmith

jugglebug wrote: »

If only more people could understand this.
I don't know about you but I struggle to get my patients to understand exactly what care they are receiving from the hygienist.
I think they are receiving vital treatment, which will allow them to keep their teeth and gingivae healthy.
They think they are getting "just a clean"
There is no "JUST" to it at all.

Slowly I believe I am getting through to them but it is a long road, however I hope things will get better with the extended duties in that patients will realise that Hygienists are well qualified clinicians in their own right and not just some lass with a 'leccy toothbrush

When I left the NHS 10 yrs ago, I did it via Denplan, which meant that for the vast majority of my patients, seeing the hygienist is included.

This means I didn't have to 'sell' a £60 'clean up' to them, I just sent them along.

People did moan a bit about the 'thoroughness' of it to begin with, but now - as I said earlier, I think I'd be lynched if I suddenly got rid of the hygienists! I even think I could abandon Denplan, and the patients would still happily pay the fee to keep their regular appointments.

It's all about re-educating people and raising their expectations of just how nice their mouth can feel with regular care ( and how little trouble it can give them if it is well looked after ). Something that I feel the NHS - particularly with this modern contract - holds back.

Kelinik

I pay about £40 every 6 months. My teeth are fine (no fillings) but gums not great apparently and get build up quickly despite all the flossing she has me do so I think it's worth the money.

jugglebug

Toothsmith wrote: »

When I left the NHS 10 yrs ago, I did it via Denplan, which meant that for the vast majority of my patients, seeing the hygienist is included.

This means I didn't have to 'sell' a £60 'clean up' to them, I just sent them along.

People did moan a bit about the 'thoroughness' of it to begin with, but now - as I said earlier, I think I'd be lynched if I suddenly got rid of the hygienists! I even think I could abandon Denplan, and the patients would still happily pay the fee to keep their regular appointments.

It's all about re-educating people and raising their expectations of just how nice their mouth can feel with regular care ( and how little trouble it can give them if it is well looked after ). Something that I feel the NHS - particularly with this modern contract - holds back.

My practice is nominally private too (about 1/3 NHS, and exempt mainly)
Unfortunately the partners who did the conversion basically ran it with zero change in practice philosophy, so it was the same treatment with just a different source of funding.
Now I am planning on purchasing the practice and am faced with the prospect of changing the mindset of all the staff, and to a large degree that of the patients.
In a way I wish it was NHS as I could explain the changes and the benefits of them with the private argument.
Thread hijack over