NHS dentist - hygienist costs not covered?

Debt_Free_Chick

I have chronic periodontitis, but have paid for private treatment since I moved South, from the Midlands, five years ago.

I'm a little surprised that a 30 min session with a periodontal hygenist is the precisely the same treatment as the standard NHS scale & polish . Particularly for the removal of calculus (tartar) beneath the gumline and it's likely to include some root planing - what does Toothsmith think? You are likely to need more than 2 visits a year, too - at least, initially.

Anyway, if you think £40 is dear, wait until you get to the Periodontal specialist :eek: :eek:

Do some research on periodontal disease - here's an article for starters. You'll find most information on US websites, though.

The threat of losing your teeth is very real as, if not fully treated and accompanied by a ruthless oral hygiene regime, it could result in bone loss. Bone loss would rule out implants too.

You need to take this seriously if you want to keep your teeth - and be prepared to shell out for more than just a dental checkup! :eek:

You may find you need this online dental store too, especially as you are likely to need interdental brushes. (No connection with that site, other than as a satisfied customer).

Toothsmith

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I'm a little surprised that a 30 min session with a periodontal hygenist is the precisely the same treatment as the standard NHS scale & polish .

I'm as bewildered as you DFC!!!

Especially when such patients transfer to me and I have to tell them they need multiple hygienist visits to get them up to a half decent condition!!

Debt_Free_Chick

Toothsmith wrote: »

I'm as bewildered as you DFC!!!

Especially when such patients transfer to me and I have to tell them they need multiple hygienist visits to get them up to a half decent condition!!

So I wonder if that's why Chameleon's dentist is making a £40 charge?

Costs me £60 in the SE .... used to pay £80 in Portland Place :eek:

Toothsmith

I understand what your saying DFC, but this is a problem of the NHS contract.

An NHS dentist ISN'T ALLOWED to charge a private fee for something that an NHS patient NEEDS as part of their treatment.

But, as the amount a dentist gets on the NHS is now fixed, extra things like hygienist appointments are simply uneconomic, and the quickest way for the dentist to go bankrupt. So they often have to try and work this dodge.

The very best thing would be for the dentist to go private, and charge the patients an appropriate amount of money for their treatment.

So long as we have this awful NHS dental system though, and as long as people are blind to how bad it can sometimes be, it will limp along whilst the dental health of the nation slowley (Or not so slowly) gets worse and worse.

frenchconnection200

Don't know if this is any help but I recently had to pay the £15 charge and I got a checkup and a visit to the hygienist, she decided she wanted to see me again so I had to top the payment up to the £43. If I feel the need to see her again in the next 6 months I'll have to pay privately. (This corresponds with what Londondiva said.)

Debt_Free_Chick

Toothsmith wrote: »

An NHS dentist ISN'T ALLOWED to charge a private fee for something that an NHS patient NEEDS as part of their treatment.

Ah - I understand now, thanks

Toothsmith

That's right - this is being operated correctly on the NHS.

If you feel the need to see her, it can be private. If you clinically NEED to see her again in 6 months, then it should be available on the NHS.

LondonDiva

I'm unfortunately not taking my own advice.

My NHS dentist has been dealing with me for years and I am very happy with his work. Unfortunately, I have dodgy gums (not enough elbow work & laziness) coupled with increasingly severe tooth grinding because of work stress.

He does the work required and every time I visit cleans the gums etc and makes me brush a false set of teeth. Even so, I know I want a deep down clean and support that a 30 min appointment can offer. I was considering going to the Slone Street dentist that my friend uses (£79 for a 30 min hygiene appt:eek: ) when it occurred to me I'd be better off paying a dentist I trust £35-40 to do the same thing.

Sooo this week will be having an NHS appointment followed by a private hygiene appointment. The first time I've ever gone private over any health matter (will my principles take it:o)

it's one of those things when I had to decide on a meal out or smile of my own in my 70s.

Toothsmith

This one has caused me a good deal of thought LondonD!

I can completely see where you're coming from here, but remember that the other side of the coin is that the other practice's hygienists will be doing thorough clean ups every day of the week on practically every patient.

Your own dentist will probably only be asked to do this once in a blue moon.

There is a lot to be said for experience and the practise you get from doing something regularly.

I don't want to influence you one way or the other, as you know your dentist, and your friend knows the other practice, so you are best placed to judge.

But I just wanted to point out the other side of the argument.