No More Scale & Polish on the NHS

Toothsmith

An interesting news item on a dental website I subscribe to.

The 'Scale & Polish' is often brought up on these pages, with just what and what shouldn't be included in the Band 1 'Check up' fee, what is a Band 2 cleaning, and when it's appropriate to pay privately to see a hygienist.

It would seem like the 'simple' 'routine' scale & polish is going to be withdrawn from NHS funding.

The treatment of gum disease will still remain (I think) as a Band 2 item.

https://www.gdpuk.com/news/latest-news/3234-no-routine-scaling-and-polishing-on-nhs

DigForVictory

Blimey.
Whilst understandable, that's going to make teaching the lads to go for the £19 checkup every 6 months more difficult.

As I'm guessing a hygienist wouldn't have access to records & their advice wouldn't carry the same heft even if they charged the same money?

Gers

I am assuming that that is for England and Wales?

I already pay for scale and polish though it may only be a contribution towards the cost. Think it's nearer £26.00, however that may be wrong.

brook2jack

If you are in Scotland or NI you pay 80% of the cost which in Scotland is £14.25 in total.

A hygienist would go broke doing a proper hygiene visit for NHS money.

In England and Wales the band 1 fee includes check up, x Rays , quite a few other things and a scale. Essentially the scale and polish is provided free.

Pennylane

Our dentists stopped doing a scale and polish years ago. I asked about it once and was told they only did them on the NHS if the dentist thought it absolutely necessary! I was then told their hygienist offered this service but it cost £45.

alba7

My dental surgery refuses to do scale and polish as part of a band 1 treatment anyway, so it won't make any difference here. Patients are told to book the hygienist every 6 months.

seven-day-weekend

I have a private dentist and have a Denplan contract, and don't have to pay anything else other than Lab fees for things like dentures (I have a partial denture). I get scale and polishes twice a year. For those who can afford it I think Denplan is very good.

However it is a shame that it is being withdrawn from NHS, which means those who can't afford it get inferior dental care.

(ETA my Denplan fee is £82.40 per month, this covers myself, my husband, my son and his partner).

Rowan9

I’m in Scotland and happily pay for scale and polish by dental hygienist. Have for a few years now. They are very thorough and takes up to 30 mins. Maybe 20. Not a good experience at the time though!

Rowan9

Ps can’t edit post for some reason but I wanted to stress that I know I’m lucky to be able to pay for this. I am sorry that the free service is being withdrawn.

roddydogs

Been withdrawn in all but name for years, and then only if you insisted , then it was only cursiory.

donnac2558

I am in Northern Ireland and to be honest my dentist does a clean as she calls it otherwise I would be paying for a 5-minute look around my mouth. Went for my 6 monthly checks on Tuesday and she did x-ray only does it once a year.



I was told I have slow decaying teeth by her a few years back!