NHS dentist but have to pay for hygienist visit

littlewren

I go to my NHS dentist about every 8 months, the time before last he told me I needed a scale and polish and I asked him if he could do it. He said he would do it the next time. So I went for my appt in August and he looked at my teeth and said I badly needed a scale & polish this time as it worse even though, as I told him, I floss every night and I'm very thorough cleaning my teeth twice a day. I reminded him that he said he would do it at that appointment but he said I needed the hygienist at the cost of £63!

I told him I'm on a pension and also on pension credit and didn't know how I was going to afford that but he had no answer.

I don't dispute his opinion but I don't know how I'm going to pay to see the hygienist on my pension, without borrowing money. My daughter's dentist gives her a rough scale & polish each time she goes but mine never has.

Has anyone experienced this and could you offer any advice plse?

Murphybear

When my husband was on Pension Credit he got all dental treatment free. The NHS website seems to think this is still the case.

Old_Lifer

I seem to remember reading on MSE a few months ago, that as of a few years ago, NHS treatment no longer covers a hygienist.


Perhaps Toothsmith or someone else will be able to tell us if this is the case.

Owain_Moneysaver

NHS does not cover (private) hygienist appointments.

If a scale and polish is dentally necessary then your dentist has to carry it out under NHS fees.

littlewren

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

NHS does not cover (private) hygienist appointments.

If a scale and polish is dentally necessary then your dentist has to carry it out under NHS fees.

Thank you for your reply. That's what I thought, that if the dentist deemed it necessary you shouldn't have to pay, only if you simply decided you wanted it done. My dentist specifically told me that the short clean he would give me wouldn't be enough and I needed to see the hygienist. As I say, he was aware I was on pension credit but didn't say anything. I'm confused now but don't want to get on the bad side of him when he'll be working on my mouth in the future! :-O

littlewren

Murphybear wrote: »

When my husband was on Pension Credit he got all dental treatment free. The NHS website seems to think this is still the case.

I get the rest of my dental treatment free, it's just the hygienist fee I'm having problems with and I don't know a way around it.

elsien

It depends on what it's neccessary for, though.
If it's staining on the teeth but is not having any clinical impact, then the dentist may say it could do with being cleaned off (from a cosmetic point of view) but that doesn't fall under the NHS treatment.

I would suggest querying with the dentist why he recommended the hygienist, and clarifying whether there is a clinical need there or not. If yes, he should do it; if not then you don't need the hygienist. Unless you want the extras that they offer that the NHS banding doesn't cover.

littlewren

elsien wrote: »

It depends on what it's neccessary for, though.
If it's staining on the teeth but is not having any clinical impact, then the dentist may say it could do with being cleaned off (from a cosmetic point of view) but that doesn't fall under the NHS treatment.

I would suggest querying with the dentist why he recommended the hygienist, and clarifying whether there is a clinical need there or not. If yes, he should do it; if not then you don't need the hygienist. Unless you want the extras that they offer that the NHS banding doesn't cover.

He said because of my gums, nothing to do with staining. That was when I said to him "but I floss every night and thoroughly clean my teeth twice a day" and he said if I wasn't careful I would lose some teeth in the future.

Barney_Rubble_0403

Hygienist as others have said is treated as private treatment. The dentist can advise but you don't have to go down this route. It won't have any bearing on your nhs treatment.

brook2jack

If you need treatment for gum disease then the dentist must provide that under the NHS . This will not be with a hygienist but will be with the dentist themself as NHS fees will not cover a hygienist.

If you just want a scale to get rid of stain ,tartar and have no gum disease then you will have to pay privately.

If you have been informed you have gum disease and that needs treatment that is covered by band 2 NHS treatment in England and Wales.

Phone up your dentist and query why , if your dentist says you have gum disease, this cannot be treated on the NHS . If they do not give a satisfactory reply then send a written complaint . Gum disease needs ongoing treatment so you may need treatment every 3 or 6 months. This is available on the NHS.

If you have gum disease you will need to change your cleaning regime as tartar is just plaque that has not been cleaned off the teeth in 48 hours , in other words your cleaning is not effective. You should ask your dentist about using interdental brushes as these may be better for you than flossing.

If you smoke you need to stop and if you have diabetes that needs to be under good control.