NHS Hygienist

boo-hoo

brook2jack wrote: »

If you have gum disease then you are entitled to have that treated on the NHS as part of a band one or two treatment.

If your gums are healthy and you just want a scale and polish for cosmetic reasons then you cannot insist on having one as NHS treatment is to secure health. You will have to see a hygienist privately.

If the dentist does an NHS check up and says you have clinical signs of gum disease that need treating they are obliged to offer it on the NHS. However that is unlikely to be with a hygienist it will likely be with the dentist, depending on how severe the problem is it may attract a band two charge. (Wales and England only . Scotland and NI don't use bands)

If your gums are healthy but you have coffee,tea,tobacco staining etc you would like removing then you cannot insist on having this done on the NHS and you will have to pay for a private hygiene appointment.

Thanks for the advise. Unfortunately the Hygienist only "scraped" my teeth and stains remained. That's the reason I felt ripped off. Had my teeth looked better I probably wouldn't have minded so much. I have also been advised by my Dentist "I probably had too much unnecessary work done in the past" for which I paid for and that has resulted in having to have a couple of crowns done and paying all over again

brook2jack

It is impossible to tell from looking at someone's teeth and X Rays whether or not work was unnecessarily done unless you can see preoperative X Rays and the pre operative teeth.

Also the philosophy and materials used in dentistry have changed greatly. In the past you would have filled teeth that you would not fill today and you would make the fillings a lot larger than you would today because modern materials and techniques allow for much smaller fillings and the reversal of the early stages of decay.

No dental work lasts forever and everything will need replacing eventually. Sometimes that will mean crowning teeth that previously had large fillings.

welshdent

So again Karo, how would it maximise their income? If the dentist is an associate who gets nothing if the patient sees the hygienist how is that boosting their income? Don't use the practice line again. The associate does not get extra if the practice makes more money. Also I think you need to re check your nhs figures.

KARO

welshdent wrote: »

So again Karo, how would it maximise their income? If the dentist is an associate who gets nothing if the patient sees the hygienist how is that boosting their income? Don't use the practice line again. The associate does not get extra if the practice makes more money. Also I think you need to re check your nhs figures.

Would you mind pointing out the bit in the OP where it says it was an associate dentist? I can't see any mention of an associate.

boo-hoo wrote: »

I know this subject has been discussed on here in previous threads but I haven't managed to find an answer.
My Dentist recommended I went to the Hygienist which I did. It cost me £40 for 10 minutes. My Dentist no longer does a scale and polish, which I know is included in Band 1 NHS costs. He still says I should see the Hygienist even though I don't have gum disease and he tells me that I clean my teeth very well. I don't understand why he won't do a scale and polish but insists I see the Hygienist. Is this just money making and can I insist on a scale and polish from the Dentist? After all he also says I only need to see him once a year as I'm doing well

brook2jack

However as 70% and rising of general dentists are associates the odds are heavily stacked in favour of them being an associate.

welshdent

By the same logic fancy saying where they said it was the principal and thus the inly dentist that can benefit in the way you allege

KARO

welshdent wrote: »

By the same logic fancy saying where they said it was the principal and thus the inly dentist that can benefit in the way you allege

Stop digging..

There's no mention of it being either.

You assume that it's always the dentists who are perfect and the patient who's at fault. Not just you, but the two or three regular posters on this board who answer this type of queries.

brook2jack

I think if you read many of the posts they are supplying facts/figures of which the readers may be unaware , or an alternative informed viewpoint.

KARO

brook2jack wrote: »

I think if you read many of the posts they are supplying facts/figures of which the readers may be unaware , or an alternative informed viewpoint.

Informed or misinformed?

Anyway I was addressing welshdent who kept asking/provoking, so presumably wanted a response.

welshdent

Think you will find it was you that was doing that karo. I have better things to do with my time. I was just pointing out that not all dentists are "maximising their income" (your words not mine) by referring to the hygienist