Hygienist Clean in the UK?

[BraceFace2o1o]

I'm with an NHS Dentist (have been seeing him for years now), but he's never had a hygienist in his office. So I would just get the normal 5 min scale clean (so not a good proper cleaning). I've never had a professional clean.

I would like to have a clean with a hygienist before I have my brace fitted in a couple of weeks time (and also during treatment). I just phoned a dental practice I found on the internet (they are in my town), and the lady said I couldn't just come in and have a clean, I'd have to have an appointment with their Dentist first, and he'd then have to refer me to the hygienest! (more money!), I think they are NHS. I explained that I already have a Dentist and didn't need to be seen by another, but she said I had to... so I said no thanks, I'll leave it.

I just phoned my Orthos office to ask them, as on their website it says they have a hygienist. When I phoned, the receptionist basically said it's not something they normally do... She went off to ask and came back and said "is it a scale and polish you want?" (I thought that's what my NHS Dentist has been doing, it's not a hygienist clean?), anyway it would cost £45... I may as well get it for £16 from my NHS Dentist!

I want a proper good clean, not something that takes 5 minutes... But I don't seem to be able to do that without having a consult with another Dentist first . All I want is a damn cleaning! lol

[Emmauk]

I know what you mean, my new dentist calls it a scale and polish but he only really cleans the front teeth with his picky thing then polishes, its not what i would consider a thorough clean. I did visit a hygeinist at my last dental practise and she was much more thorough but when she left they didnt replace her the dentist just did it.

I reckon they generally dont bother if your teeth are good/ok. My husband's teeth always need a good clean and mine never do, we are both charged the same but his takes a good 45mins.

[fleur26]

hi chrystal

i know what you're getting at. i had a proper hygentist clean with my dentist before i had my braces put on. but have only just been at my new dentist a few months and they have a great hygenist there and referred me for braces too. the cleaning normally takes 45 mins and is a proper cleaning and polish, is that what your ortho meant? other than that maybe you could try asking your current dentist maybe they would do it if you paid? hope this helps a lil.

[BraceFace2o1o]

I know what you mean, my new dentist calls it a scale and polish but he only really cleans the front teeth with his picky thing then polishes, its not what i would consider a thorough clean. I did visit a hygeinist at my last dental practise and she was much more thorough but when she left they didnt replace her the dentist just did it.

I reckon they generally dont bother if your teeth are good/ok. My husband's teeth always need a good clean and mine never do, we are both charged the same but his takes a good 45mins.

Hi Emma,

Yeah my Dentist calls it a scale and polish too and over the years when I've had it done (I normally ask, otherwise he wouldn't do it), it only lasts 5 mins max and I notice he mainly does the front lower teeth, he removes some of the stains, but not completely... not sure what that's about.

I think my tops are ok, my lowers seem to be the 'worst'. But I just thought it would be a good idea to have a thorough clean before I get the braces fitted, seeing as I've never had a GOOD cleaning before.

To be honest, I think my Dentist is a little old fashioned! He's been there for over 25 years and his tools look like they're from the 80's

hi chrystal

i know what you're getting at. i had a proper hygentist clean with my dentist before i had my braces put on. but have only just been at my new dentist a few months and they have a great hygenist there and referred me for braces too.

Hi fleur26,

I'm glad your office has a hygienist, because mine never has. I didn't really even think of it until I saw someone mention it in a thread on this forum, they called it a professional clean and I was like "what is one of those?"

the cleaning normally takes 45 mins and is a proper cleaning and polish, is that what your ortho meant? other than that maybe you could try asking your current dentist maybe they would do it if you paid? hope this helps a lil.

I am not sure what the Ortho meant really , the receptionist just asked if it was a scale and polish I wanted/meant... when she said that I just assumed that it's just the same thing my Dentist gives me, so I wasn't keen on paying £45 privately for something I can get at my Dentist at an NHS price.
The thing is, I guess I wont really know what the cleaning will be like at the Ortho unless I go ahead and do it. Maybe I should just go ahead and have it done, then if I don't feel it's anything more than my Dentist does, I'll stick with getting a 'clean' with Dentist at my check up appointments and pay the normal £16.50 I usually pay for check up.

[luchababe]

Maybe this is a English/North American thing?

I'm in Canada and every six months I go for a checkup and cleaning. The hygienist will scrape off the plaque, floss me, polish each tooth then I do a fluoride rinse for 30 seconds. Once that's all done the dentist comes in, pokes around for trouble for about 2 minutes and if everything is good, I'm out of there in about an hour, my free toothbrush and wax in hand.

[drrick]

You have to be diagnosed by a dentist so the prophy can be prescribed by the dentist. This is done when you do not have periodontal disease. If yuo do then scaling and root planing is needed.

The diagnosis has to be made though. This typicaly requires an exam, periodontal charing and full mouth xrays.

this is how it is in the states anyway.

[BraceFace2o1o]

Maybe this is a English/North American thing?

I'm in Canada and every six months I go for a checkup and cleaning. The hygienist will scrape off the plaque, floss me, polish each tooth then I do a fluoride rinse for 30 seconds. Once that's all done the dentist comes in, pokes around for trouble for about 2 minutes and if everything is good, I'm out of there in about an hour, my free toothbrush and wax in hand.

Hi luchababe,

I have check ups with my Dentist every 6-9 months and I'm normally in and out of the chair within 5 mins (an extra 5 mins if I ask for the clean)... unless of course there is a problem with my teeth.

The hygienist flosses your teeth? wow , my Dentist has never mentioned Flossing in my whole time of being his patient . I do floss though, but I only started doing it daily a couple of months ago, shame on me!

You have to be diagnosed by a dentist so the prophy can be prescribed by the dentist. This is done when you do not have periodontal disease. If yuo do then scaling and root planing is needed.

The diagnosis has to be made though. This typicaly requires an exam, periodontal charing and full mouth xrays.

this is how it is in the states anyway.

Hi drrick,

Oh, you need to be diagnosed even if you don't have periodontal disease, I didn't know that. I am not sure if that's the same in the UK though, but maybe it is if the first office I phoned said so.

I just got off the phone to my Orthos receptionist and decided to book the scale and polish. I have it done on Thursday, hopefully it will be a bit more thorough.

I do feel that Dental/Ortho treatment is alot different in the UK than in the US though, sometimes I wish I lived in the US!

[luchababe]

The hygienist flosses your teeth? wow , my Dentist has never mentioned Flossing in my whole time of being his patient . I do floss though, but I only started doing it daily a couple of months ago, shame on me!

It's quite a strange sensation being flossed by someone else. I always pray the night before I'll get the hygienist with the light touch!

[drrick]

Hi drrick,

Oh, you need to be diagnosed even if you don't have periodontal disease, I didn't know that. I am not sure if that's the same in the UK though, but maybe it is if the first office I phoned said so.

Yes, you have to be diagnosed to prove that you dont have periodontal disease. A "Cleaning" is only done in a healthy mouth and they wont know if you are healthy without diagnosing you.

[fleur26]

yes my hygenist also does the same. flosses and polishes me at the end. last time she even gave me an interdental brush for my staining areas to give them a bit of working at home.

I think the ortho sounds like they will give you the full treatment too if you're seeing their hygenist. and if that works for you, maybe you could ask them if you could keep coming to see them whilst you are wearing your braces? let us know how it goes on thursday/.

[blueberry*bunni]

Hi luchababe,

I have check ups with my Dentist every 6-9 months and I'm normally in and out of the chair within 5 mins (an extra 5 mins if I ask for the clean)... unless of course there is a problem with my teeth.

The hygienist flosses your teeth? wow , my Dentist has never mentioned Flossing in my whole time of being his patient . I do floss though, but I only started doing it daily a couple of months ago, shame on me!

[

I go to the dentist very six months, and they throughly clean my teeth every time, including flossing. Out of the chair in five minutes, I wish It usually takes 30 minutes to an hour

[macgirl4ever]

I find it interesting that dentists do dental cleanings themselves in the UK. I have always had a hygienist do the cleaning and x-rays and the dentist checks my gum levels, x-rays, and general oral health. I see the dentist once a year and the hygienist four times a year in braces though I will go back to twice a year when they come off. Are there not a lot of dental hygienist training programs? In the US we have a huge shortage of dental schools for dentists but nearly every community college offers a course n dental assisting or dental hygiene.

[blueberry*bunni]

I find it interesting that dentists do dental cleanings themselves in the UK. I have always had a hygienist do the cleaning and x-rays and the dentist checks my gum levels, x-rays, and general oral health. I see the dentist once a year and the hygienist four times a year in braces though I will go back to twice a year when they come off. Are there not a lot of dental hygienist training programs? In the US we have a huge shortage of dental schools for dentists but nearly every community college offers a course n dental assisting or dental hygiene.

I find it interesting too. I thought hygienists did the cleaning, I know my moms old dentist didnt do it but he was very old school. When I go to the dentist the hygienist cleans my teeth, does xrays and my dentist checks everything out.

[poppy123]

ive never had one either, at my last check up i asked if i was having a 'scale and polish' and he said no, i didnt need one. Before my orthodontist fitted my brace he polished them and did a 'conditioning treatment' - only took 10 mins tho. Dont know why some people get to see the hygenist and others dont...

[BraceFace2o1o]

Well I had my clean at the Orthos office today. Let me just say, MUCH better! I am very happy. They cleaned all my teeth, got rid of the build up of plaque on my lower teeth that my Dentist seems to 'miss'. I was in there for a good 15+ minutes, compared to 5 mins at my Dentist.

Only thing I don't like, is my 3 front lower teeth now have the dreaded black triangles! hahaha! plaque was disguising these I guess.