£90 for a hygienist appointment - any DIY options?!

Participant

Participant

Participant

Caporegime
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
34,709
Location
Warwickshire
Hi.

Had a check up at the dentist recently...£40...OK, just about reasonable. First one for 1.5 years.

They recommended I see a hygienist, having put cameras in my mouth to show me hi-res images of the bits that needed attention. Very clever marketing.

Anyway the quote for the hygienist appointment was more than twice the check up and they added it to my check up bill when I paid as I was leaving. Cheeky. I told them to remove it. Not sure when they became so expensive, but all they do iirc is pick your teeth, polish them, and give you some advice about oral hygiene.

**** that!

Obviously I do want clean teeth and gums...does anyone do what the hygienist does but themselves at home? Can you buy the tools etc.? Is it even necessary if you brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush, floss, and use mouth wash?

Dentists are either inaccessible or plain charlatans! Total joke.
 
I get a buildup of plaque very easily so I bought some of the hygienist handheld tools from amazon for less than a tenner. Easy enough to get rid of a lot of the build-up but I still need a proper hygienist's clean once in a blue moon. Not been for a few years but it used to be £50 for a private hygienist.
 
Derek W said:
Smash your face with a hammer to remove your teeth so you don't have to worry about the dentist again? :o
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Tempting...

Stumble Bum said:
I get a buildup of plaque very easily so I bought some of the hygienist handheld tools from amazon for less than a tenner. Easy enough to get rid of a lot of the build-up but I still need a proper hygienist's clean once in a blue moon. Not been for a few years but it used to be £50 for a private hygienist.
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But I like this better.

£50...I'm getting ripped off. They just polish your teeth for 20 minutes.
 
dave28 said:
Dentists and Vets are very expensive these days.

My NHS dentist has turned private only now and wants £250 a year for 2 check ups and two hygienist sessions.
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Why have their price increases massively outstripped general inflation? They can't blame costs of employment to this extent.

They are effectively unregulated local monopolies and can charge what they fancy.
 
I'd bought a couple of little bits from amazon as well a couple of years back, a little vibrating pick thing with different heads to get rid of build once in a while, a tongue scraper and a water flosser to use as part of normal brushing/flossing. They do seem to have helped out in the spots I'm most prone to.

I've actually just cancelled the dentist for myself, it went private a few years back and we've been paying a direct debit to the amount which should be the equivalent of 2 check ups & basic hygienist appointments a year. Since then I think every single appointment I've every made has been cancelled or re-scheduled at the last minute, sometimes with no availability to fit me in for another several weeks. I went in last month and was told that they may not be able to see me today as my dentist had left early for the day and the other still had some patients to see (pretty much happened anytime the appointments were after 4pm), the receptionist wanted to book with me for late Feb but I'd had enough and got her to just cancel everything there and then.

Funnily enough somebody came out and said I could be seen in just a few minutes when the receptionist went to get help on cancelling everything, too late by then. I stopped short of cancelling my daughters for the time being as she's free on NHS anyway, but me and my wife are on the lookout for somewhere new now.
 
£85-£90 for a hygienist appointment and go twice a year. The appointment is usually 40 minutes and well, teeth are kind of important so yeah...
 
I go every six months and have a dental checkup and hygienist appointment. It was £118 for both a few weeks ago, dentist didn't do x-rays as the ones that were taken the visit before last were still in date.
 
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Participant said:
Why have their price increases massively outstripped general inflation? They can't blame costs of employment to this extent.

They are effectively unregulated local monopolies and can charge what they fancy.
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Welcome to private health care.

People will PAY for their health, they know that and they have us over a barrel.
 
Participant said:
Why have their price increases massively outstripped general inflation? They can't blame costs of employment to this extent.

They are effectively unregulated local monopolies and can charge what they fancy.
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Vets have almost all been bought up by a few private equity outfits, and they've cranked up the prices to make good on their investments.
 
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cheesyboy said:
Vets have almost all been bought up by a few private equity outfits, and they've cranked up the prices to make good on their investments.
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Yes I'm sure @413x has something to say on that one! I do know our current dog will be the last one because vet costs are horrific.
 
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hygienist get the plaque you missed and it hardened into tartar
brush and floss better. maybe brush lightly with only water after eating or at least drink some water and use your cheeks to swish it around your teeth at high velocity.

you can eliminate the majority of plaque build up and stop it ever hardening.


when the dentist asks if you floss every day and you say yes or most of the time... they know if your lying. they are trying to guilt you into doing it more often.

Parky said:
water flosser to use as part of normal brushing/flossing. They do seem to have helped out in the spots I'm most prone to.
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not as good as normal flossing but if you have a cavity the cold water will let you know quicker than you would find out any other way.
 
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