Dental checkup/hygienist

GA7_2

Had a dental check up (£17.50) + a hygienist appointment (£44).

My friend told me today that upon having both the checkup + hygienist appointment he ended up paying just for the hygienist appointment.

The dental clinic I went to is NHS run and so is the dental clinic my friend went too. Should I have to pay for both?

1jim

Had something similar, I suppose it depends on reason for hygienist, if this was for a specific need rather than cosmetic effect then should be covered under band 1 treatment

My guess is you saw nhs dentist but they passed you to a private hygienist... That's what they tried with me at my practice until I pointed out that should be nhs care if indicated

GA7_2

Hmm. Well he just said I should see the hygienist. So after the checkup I booked an appointment for that. Don't know if I should be reclaiming something now and how best to go about it.

SailorSam

'Cos i'm on benefits i don't have to pay to see the dentist for a check-up, but do pay for the hygienist.

Guardsman

Did you and your friend have the same treatment ? Prices can vary for several reasons.

GA7_2

Guardsman wrote: »

Did you and your friend have the same treatment ? Prices can vary for several reasons.

Yep same treatment.

miduck

Guardsman wrote: »

Did you and your friend have the same treatment ? Prices can vary for several reasons.

Prices should not vary for NHS treatment - they are clearly defined. It seems the OP has been referred to the private hygienist without being advised as such.

SailorSam wrote: »

'Cos i'm on benefits i don't have to pay to see the dentist for a check-up, but do pay for the hygienist.

If there is a clinical need for you to have a scale and polish, it should be within your NHS treatment, and so in your case, free.

OP, are you aware why you need to see the hygienist? As noted above, if there is a clinical need for the treatment this should be done under the NHS. If they do not have an NHS hygienist your dentist should do the work themselves.

Here is information as to what is covered by each charge.

I_luv_cats

The confusion tends to work in the dentist favour!

Somebody needs to clarify the patients position as this tends to come up quite a lot!

bris

Hygenists do not get nhs funding unless it is for medical reasons, very rare, so it is never free. If you qualify for nhs treatment then the checkup will be free however it depends on your circumstances.

neilmcl

Did your friend actually see a hygienist or was it simply the dentist giving a quick scale and polish?

In the practice I go to I have the choice of a simple scale & polish (via the dentist) alongside the check-up which is usually included in the price or if I want to see the hygienist then this is a separate cost.

miduck

bris wrote: »

Hygenists do not get nhs funding unless it is for medical reasons, very rare, so it is never free. If you qualify for nhs treatment then the checkup will be free however it depends on your circumstances.

Hygienists are not funded but the treatment is. Hence it is for the dentist to do if the patient has a clinical need for it - see link posted above.