How much is a hygienist appointment in the UK?

At Toothi London, a basic hygiene appointment (up to 20 minutes, scale and polish) costs £70, and a comprehensive hygiene appointment (up to 30 minutes, with Airflow) costs £125. On the NHS in England, a scale and polish is part of Band 1 (£27.90), but only when your dentist decides it is clinically needed. Below we explain what each appointment involves, how often to go and how NHS and private hygiene compare.

Both hygiene appointments are listed on our fees page. You can book a hygiene appointment on its own or alongside your check-up.

The basic appointment suits people whose gums are healthy and who build up a modest amount of tartar. The comprehensive appointment gives more time and adds Airflow polishing, which suits heavier staining, more tartar, or anyone who wants a more thorough clean. If you need treatment for gum disease beyond a routine clean, that is quoted in writing after assessment.

Toothi is a fully private practice and does not provide NHS treatment. The NHS charges below are the official figures for England from 1 April 2026.

On the NHS, a scale and polish is provided when your dentist judges it clinically necessary, for example to treat gum inflammation. A cosmetic clean purely to remove staining is not usually available on the NHS. Private hygiene prices vary between practices, so it is worth comparing published prices and appointment lengths.

Most people find a hygiene appointment comfortable. If your gums are inflamed or sensitive, some areas can feel tender; tell us and we can adjust or use a numbing gel. Read more about our dental hygiene appointments.

Airflow uses a fine jet of warm water, air and a very fine powder to lift away plaque, biofilm and surface stains. It reaches into small spaces, around braces and between teeth, and many people find it gentler than traditional polishing with a rotating cup and paste.

It is included in our £125 comprehensive appointment. It is particularly useful if you drink tea, coffee or red wine, smoke, wear braces or aligners, or have crowded teeth that are hard to keep clean. It is a cleaning tool, not whitening: it removes surface staining but does not change the natural colour of your teeth. Learn more on our Airflow air polish page.

There is no single answer. Many people with healthy gums benefit from a hygiene appointment every six months. People with a history of gum disease, heavy tartar build-up, diabetes, or who smoke may need to go more often, sometimes every three to four months. Others with very healthy gums and low build-up may need it less.

Your dentist will recommend an interval based on your gums at your check-up.

If your NHS dentist provides a scale and polish when it is clinically needed, that is good care and good value. People often choose private hygiene appointments because they want a regular, preventive clean even when there is no active problem, a longer appointment, Airflow, or more flexible times, including weekends.

Regular cleaning, together with good brushing and cleaning between teeth at home, helps keep gums healthy. Gum disease is a common cause of tooth loss in adults, and catching bleeding gums early is usually simpler than treating advanced disease later.