NHS dental charges - scale and polish

Elaine853

Hi. Can someone shed some light on the inconsistent approach taken by NHS dentists?   I visited my practice last week for a routine check up and the new dentist recommended a scale and polish - he provided no other details.  I've never received this recommendation before.  He explained they now had a hygienist at the practice.  I said ok.  
I went to reception to arrange the appointment and was asked for £65 in addition to the £23+ band 1 charge.  I queried it and was told it was because the scale and polish was not a clinical need - I asked her to clarify the difference between being recommended for a treatment vs clinical need.  She couldn't.  I asked if they recommended this obvious cosmetic treatment because it was private and generated £65 for the practice. She said it wasn't cosmetic.   I asked her what it was then if not cosmetic and she really struggled not to use the word clinical.   

Is it me?  Am I being pedantic?   Discussed with my friends and there is a real variance with those who receive the scale and polish as standard and those you are expected to pay extra;  some have the treatment carried out by the dentist and others by a hygienist.

I was literally with the dentist for 2 minutes + the time for an xray.  I do feel NHS patients are receiving a second class service especially when friends paying private fees are in the consulting room for 10/15 minutes minimum.

Janey51

I see an NHS dentist in Scotland and was recommended to have scale and polish at my last appointment for which I was charged about £13.50. This was performed by the hygienist. 

elsien

Gum health level 3 and 4 tends to indicate a clinical need, 1 and 2 doesn’t. 

Staining of teeth from tea/coffee that is causing no oral health problems bug doesn’t look great also isn’t a clinical need but most people want it done. Hence the private hygienist appointments. 

When you’re asking your friends what service they got, you probably didn’t ask enough detail. 

If my dentist recommends the hygienist, then I ask the direct question why is it being recommended and if it’s necessary why aren’t they doing it? That tends to give a little more clarity.

I think in the world of private dentistry nowadays, cosmetic  tends to mean the full teeth whitening,  Invisalign, everything else as opposed to the just getting rid of a few stains that it used to mean

macman

A hygienist isn't a qualified dentist, so I don't see how the NHS dental scales would apply. It's an additional private service.

shiraz99

As mentioned above, you usually get the option of having a simple scale/polish by your dentist which they'll often offer for free or at a small cost or a full scale and polish by the hygienist which will be a private service and therefore not covered by the NHS charging scale.

cannugec5

My NHS dental practice also employs a hygienist and like Janey above I pay a small fee, under £15, for the service. 

I only see the hygienist when recommended by the dentist. 

I think those that suggest all hygienists are not covered by the NHS scale of charges  are mistaken. 

shiraz99

cannugec5 said:

My NHS dental practice also employs a hygienist and like Janey above I pay a small fee, under £15, for the service. 

I only see the hygienist when recommended by the dentist. 

I think those that suggest all hygienists are not covered by the NHS scale of charges  are mistaken. 

Nobody suggested that. All we've said is that where an optional scale and polish is provided, that is not clinically needed, it is not covered in the NHS charging scale. The fact you paid £15 suggests this was a private, albeit minimal charge, rather than part of the NHS band 1 charge which would've been £23.80 (assuming this is in England).

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/understanding-nhs-dental-charges

In answer to the OP, the fact that you've been charged £65 is possibly because it was more than a simple scale and polish and an additional course of treatment which would mean it moves to Band 2 if it were done under the NHS.

cannugec5

shiraz99 said:

cannugec5 said:

My NHS dental practice also employs a hygienist and like Janey above I pay a small fee, under £15, for the service. 

I only see the hygienist when recommended by the dentist. 

I think those that suggest all hygienists are not covered by the NHS scale of charges  are mistaken. 

Nobody suggested that. All we've said is that where an optional scale and polish is provided, that is not clinically needed, it is not covered in the NHS charging scale. The fact you paid £15 suggests this was a private, albeit minimal charge, rather than part of the NHS band 1 charge which would've been £23.80 (assuming this is in England).

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/understanding-nhs-dental-charges

In answer to the OP, the fact that you've been charged £65 is possibly because it was more than a simple scale and polish and an additional course of treatment which would mean it moves to Band 2 if it were done under the NHS.

Actually, No I’m in Scotland. 

https://www.scottishdental.org/public/treatment-charges/

Scale and polish £12.36. 

shiraz99

cannugec5 said:

shiraz99 said:

cannugec5 said:

My NHS dental practice also employs a hygienist and like Janey above I pay a small fee, under £15, for the service. 

I only see the hygienist when recommended by the dentist. 

I think those that suggest all hygienists are not covered by the NHS scale of charges  are mistaken. 

Nobody suggested that. All we've said is that where an optional scale and polish is provided, that is not clinically needed, it is not covered in the NHS charging scale. The fact you paid £15 suggests this was a private, albeit minimal charge, rather than part of the NHS band 1 charge which would've been £23.80 (assuming this is in England).

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/understanding-nhs-dental-charges

In answer to the OP, the fact that you've been charged £65 is possibly because it was more than a simple scale and polish and an additional course of treatment which would mean it moves to Band 2 if it were done under the NHS.

Actually, No I’m in Scotland. 

https://www.scottishdental.org/public/treatment-charges/

Scale and polish £12.36. 

Maybe you should've led with that then 😉