Hygienists are torturers but I always feel so virtuous afterwards 
Lovely squeaky clean teeth, itās almost like absolution!
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I think my dentist is great but I always shuddered at the prospect of my session with the hygienist afterwards - I thought she was far too brutal with her scale and polish techniques - she managed to dislodge one of my fillings with that high pressure water gadget in one session - this was straight after my dentist had just given me a thorough 6 month check-up and said my teeth were all fine and needed no remedial work.
The dentist had to fit me in between his other patients to repair my tooth for free before I left the surgery.
One good thing that came out of Covid is that my Dentist no longer employs a separate hygienist - he has gone back to doing whatever scale and Polish is needed when he does the 6 monthly check-up - and it is much more comfortable than when the hygienist did it.
Never again will I agree to open my mouth for someone who is armed with a lot of enthusiasm plus the dental equivalent of a Karcher High Pressure Power Washer!
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Our dentist is Bulgarian and such a nice guy. He is settling in well and picking up the Norfolk accent. Last time I went he said ābless your heartā and we both laughed.
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All my dental phobia was created by a NHS dentist. When I came to Australia I avoided going to the dentist for years (at least a decade) but at last I finally had to go.
What a difference having to pay made, so much better treatment by a professional rather than a butcher. It didnāt overcome my fear of them but at least I go regularly.
(I am not saying all NHS dentists are butchers but mine certainly was)
I have been going regularly to the dentist (every six months) since I was 13.
My first dentist was a large German lady called Zelda. She completed all my fillings without anaesthetic. She reckoned that if you got used to not having it you wouldnāt miss it.
It was true, I had lots of fillings and replacements over the next ten years without anaesthetic.
Unfortunately Zeldaās father passed away, who was also a dentist, and she moved away to take over his practice. So I had to find a new one. I visited one nearer to the place where I worked and he recommended that I started having anaesthetic with my fillings. He said it was as much for his benefit as mine, so I agreed.
He turned out to be a brilliant dentist and kept my teeth in perfect condition, teeth that would probably have been lost without his expert care. I never minded going to the dentist, but felt relieved when it was all over after getting the all clear.
He poked about occasionally with a pointed implement removing the hard bits, and it was worse than having a filling.
After almost forty years he retired, he looked younger than me. Thatās when the NHS went down the drain. I still visited the same practice but with some Hungarian bloke. He was decent but was replaced by a young Spanish bloke the next time I went. The Spanish bloke descaled my teeth and it was the worst treatment I have ever endured and vowed never to have my teeth descaled again.
2020 was the covid epidemic, and my dental practice virtually closed only dealing with emergencies and I havenāt been to see a dentist since. In future I will go private, but only when I need something doing, and definitely no descalingā¦
Iām in Canada and weāve just begun implementing a national dental planābut you have to be over 77 or older. Itās a phased roll out with the ages dropping monthly. I have a dental plan so I probably wonāt qualify.
Still wouldnāt encourage me to go any more often than I absolutely have to.
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Reading this thread and realizing I need to make an appointment to get two teeth pulled and possible implant. Does anyone have an opinion about implants? Not looking forward to this next step
From what little I know about implants: long and involved process. You need to have sufficient bone in your jaw. Some people choose crowns instead.
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You mean the Airflow treatment? I have it done twice a year. Many years ago when I voiced concern that any treatment the hygienist provides might dislodge a filling, both my dentist and the hygienist cynically remarked that, in that case, the filling was not good enough. 
Generally, the work of a hygienist canāt be that torturous since no anaesthetic is used. Iām a bit surprised to read that hygienists can also take X-rays. Iād think twice about that.
I think you misread that.
Did I?
āSome dental hygienists are licensed to administer local anesthesia and perform dental radiography.ā
"Dental hygienists are at the forefront of preventive oral health care. They are trained to perform several preventative services, including:
Taking X-rays of your mouth to help identify tooth and jaw problems" (US)
āTaking X-rays: Dental hygienists may take X-rays of the teeth and jaw to help dentists diagnose problems that may not be visible to the naked eye.ā (UK)
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-does-a-dental-hygienist-do
My philosophy is that if it doesnāt hurt, leave it aloneā¦But brush regularly and keep them clean.
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Definitely.
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My mum was a school dental nurse.
All the kids called the clinic the murder house.
So I can proudly say my mum was a murderer.
Today my only fear of the dentist is the cost Ā£800 for a crown.
But paying to keep natural teeth is a choice not a law so I budget.
My last two dentists have been NZ raised South Korean and are excellent with high tech equipment so not quite painless but nearly.
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Thanks, Summerdancing, sadly I should face the music on implants oon.
Some hygienists are qualified to do x rays and simple fillings if the dentist says theyāre needed
Mine is
So you see the dentist for your check up, and if a small filling is needed, you make an appointment with the hygienist to have it done
They canāt do anything complicated, itās a bit like seeing the nurse at the doctorās for minor procedures
I think the ones like mine who can do fillings are called dental therapists? They do hygienist as well
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Sorry, I thought you were referring to a post in this thread. As I say I donāt have any idea what dental hygienists get up to, have never come across one,
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I needed to be sedated and had to go to a specialist as neither the hygienist nor the dentist were qualified to use sedation.
Hygenists are so expensive . Ā£82 + for a half an hours session .
They clean your teeth of all the plaque that your toothbrush canāt reach and lecture you on how to clean them .
Even though they know that the average person cannot remove under the gum line plaque .
We go every six months but it goes up every time so maybe have to review this .
Still got all of our teeth ( barring some wisdom ones ) so I reckon they will see us out ,
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