Scale and Polish

Anoneemoose

Just a quick question.

I was just reading the thread where op had bleeding gums after dental visits and it got me wondering about scale and polish.

My oh always has one when he goes to his dentist for his check up but I don't. Now, I always thought that was because mine was a bit tight (my old dentist was a grump) and didn't want to do it but am I right in thinking that they are not always necessary?

I had one about 2 years ago and last time my new dentist just used the pointy thing to scrape in between a couple of my teeth. I now assume they were the ones that I hadn't flossed quite as well as I could have?

Just curious really!

justme111

In an ideal world it is supposed to be depending on whether you need one or not. I can not possibly.comment on why you don't hve it while your oh does as I have not seen your teeth.

Anoneemoose

Meant to say, DH and I go to different practices.

I used to go to one in a different town and they didn't do it and now the one I'm at don't either.

roddydogs

You only get a very basic "Scale & polish" on the NHS, as of course they want you to pay more for a "Hygenist"

Anoneemoose

Thanks. I shall assume that my teeth don't need it for now then - my current dentist is lovely so I trust that she would tell me if I did. As I say, was more just got me thinking.

My dentist also did my splint for tmj privately at £60 when she could have charged nhs price of £200& so I don't worry she would try and upsell a hygeniest if it wasn't necessary.

dandelionclock30

I go to a private dentist and see the hygenist twice a year because I've got a crown which needs to be kept an eye on and cleaned around. All the patients see the hygenist once per year as standard.
Since I started going to this practice I've had very few issues with my teeth as the emphasis is on prevention of problems.

Toothsmith

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Since I started going to this practice I've had very few issues with my teeth as the emphasis is on prevention of problems.

Which is probably the biggest difference between Private & NHS

The NHS will provide things when you NEED them. In Private, we try to stop you NEEDING stuff!

justme111

Toothsmith wrote: »

Which is probably the biggest difference between Private & NHS

The NHS will provide things when you NEED them. In Private, we try to stop you NEEDING stuff!

I would not say that NHS provides things that one needs as it would give public too good a perceptions of what NHS provides. The cheapest bulky thick acrilic for dentures ? Crowns so opaque and obvious it makes one cringe just to look at them ? Amalgams under which recent graduates from Spain working for corporate hopefully cleaned caries , lining would been a luxury . Repeated prescriptions until patients get fed up and ask for the tooth out ? Referrals for extractios of all deciduous molars under general anesthetic ? "This root canal treatment is too complicated , I will have to refer you privately or ut "? I do not mean there is no good work done under NHS , I would not rely on it providing what one "needs" though.

welshdent

I must work in a very unusual area in that case or we are a bunch of mugs ;-) in all the practices I've worked at the dentists have provided molar endos, etc etc
Sure we all do acrylic dentures but that's hardly a crime seeing as they get done routinely in private practice as well. I don't line amalgams though. Not for cost cutting reasons I just don't think it's necessary. I don't do lab made ceramic crowns either but I do use cerec.

justme111

I did not mean acrilic dentures per se. I meant quality of that acrilic. I don't even mention different types of attachments , cobalt chrome ones , valplast ones etc. I do not think those should be provided on NHS , don't get me wrong. No budget would afford it. I do mind though lulling people in the NHS nirvana referring to NHS as "provides what you need" . Well , being edentulous is compatible with life so one does not "need " teeth so that statement may hold true ..

welshdent

I think the system is dreadful. I really do. But it's not my patients fault so I just try and make the best of it. I do believe I could do more privately and I do believe the nhs ties my hands behind my back. I do however get to take on complex cases that is giving me invaluable experience to take forward .... I don't see new patients though. That's the only way to make it work for me