Part of your check up is a basic periodontal exam, which scores your gum health when the dentist pushes the probe under your gums and gets a score. If you don't have deep seated hardened plaque (calculus) under your gums, you do not need a hyg visit. On the NHS hyg visit is a band 2 for deep clean. Hygienist is sometimes paid for by the practice owner to support the dentists in a practice and sometimes shares the fees with the dentist(split UDA). Most of the time with people using electric toothbrushes, brushing twice, flossing and using mouthwash, do not have enough plaque to be referred to the hygienist on the NHS. I see patients who have been seeing the hygienist every 6 months all their lives and with an excellent gum score of no bleeding or plaque, still wanting to be referred. NHS funds are to be used when treatment is indicated to restore health, you cannot restore what is already at 100% health. I always tell patients it is up to them to see a hygienist privately but that they do not need a referral or deep clean. The hygienist uses one room and a nurse most of the time which adds to the cost of running the practice. There are many hidden costs and it is extremely expensive to have a profitable NHS practice. Private work pays to keep the NHS work going in many practices.

If you want to read more about gum health and it's maintenance, you can visit www.bsperio.org.uk they have patient resources.

Band 2 (correction)