Dental cleaning?

Had my first dental cleaning in the UK (private dentist) and I am disappointed.

My teeth don't look any better.

After cleanings in the US, my teeth looked noticeably cleaner and brighter, and I always felt prettier coming out of the dentist's office, like after I'd had a good haircut.  I never had any special bleachings or treatments in the US, just the normal cleaning.

I noticed on the way out that there was a sign over the receptionist's desk offering whitening for £199.  Is that what you need to do to get a full/proper cleaning? I've never had my teeth whitened in the US, just regular cleanings.

My cleaning in the UK was by a hygienist and only cost £35. It consisted of having my teeth scraped, a water-jet type thing and then a few minutes of polishing. My cleanings in the US were done by the dentist, with the hygienist in the background, and I vaguely recall that more time was spent polishing.

Was my experience the norm for the UK, or is it just my dentist? I am planning to change dentists anyway, because their office has moved and it has become very inconvenient for me to get there.

I was really happy with my last cleaning at the dentist in the UK... the hygenist did a good job and was really nice.  Never liked going in the US but my dentist in the US was a horrible man in general... so I think it depends who you get in either location.

Edited to Add: My hygenist in the UK had actually worked in the US as a hygenist for 13 years.. perhaps thats why she was so good? Dont know though because shes the only one Ive been to over here.

As for teeth whitening.. Ive always used Crest Whitestrips. I started using them in the US before i left 3 years ago and if you do them properly they get your teeth really white and they only need to be done about once a year because they stay white. In the US they were about $35 last time i got them there.. but i did them recently and got the premium 7 day ones for £19 on ebay so about the same price really.

I had the same experience when I went to a dentist here in the UK.  But in the US. I felt like I was having a spa treatment when I had my teeth cleaned.  Different people will tell you different things but I have had the same experience as you...

My dentist is paranoid about overscrubbing and polishing - it can damage the enamel on your teeth.  If you had a thorough clean and polish when last in the US it may just be the case that you don't need another polish now.  Just a thorough clean. Which sounds like what you got.

Vicky

Sucks, donnit? That's the cleaning I have gotten in Belfast. Hated it. Made me understand why my mom hated dentists from her time in England as a child. It did not look as though the instruments had changed much from then.

I used whitestrips before my wedding. I found that they made my teeth really sensitive and it was painful to eat anything, but I guess there is no alternative. I'm embarrassed to go around with teeth that aren't as clean as I think they should be.

I may think about paying for a whitening treatment. Does anyone know what that entails in the UK?

Yes, for all the dentists I have been to in the US, getting a cleaning was like a spa treatment, where I felt like I had been "beautified".

I could understand if I were getting this through the NHS, that they wouldn't want to waste taxpayers money on something that was just cosmetic, but I paid for this out of my own pocket.

By the way, I noticed that the woman who went in to see the hygienist just after me had very yellow teeth, and I couldn't help wondering if she hadn't had her teeth cleaned in a very long time or if she had been having regular cleanings and that was how they left her.

ETA: The reason I used whitestrips before my wedding is because I didn't have time to see a dentist. You shouldn't have to use them and get professional cleanings.

I don't think whitening and cleaning are the same thing. Whitening is cheating in that sense, makes your teeth look cleaner than what they are (like dying your hair makes you think you look younger than what you are).

My dentist is paranoid about overscrubbing and polishing - it can damage the enamel on your teeth.  If you had a thorough clean and polish when last in the US it may just be the case that you don't need another polish now.  Just a thorough clean. Which sounds like what you got.

Vicky

I haven't had a cleaning in over three years. I needed a polish.

The whitestrips did make my teeth really sensitive during the week that I used them.. and towards day 5 they started to feel like they were burning my gums.. but after that 7 days I was fine and was left with whiter teeth. As someone who can't afford £200 for a professional whitening... theyre a good alternative if you can just grit your teeth and bear it (no pun intended).

Do you get Crest Whitestrips here?  I've never heard of them.

Do you get Crest Whitestrips here?  I've never heard of them.

As for teeth whitening.. Ive always used Crest Whitestrips. I started using them in the US before i left 3 years ago and if you do them properly they get your teeth really white and they only need to be done about once a year because they stay white. In the US they were about $35 last time i got them there.. but i did them recently and got the premium 7 day ones for £19 on ebay so about the same price really.

I found them on ebay
http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=Crest+Whitestrips+Premium&scoring=p

Do you get Crest Whitestrips here?  I've never heard of them.

You can get them in Boots.

After watching that documentary about all the dodgy fake products from China, I don't think i'd take a chance buying anything cosmetic related from E-bay! 

One question though, do they hurt your teeth?  I have pretty sensitive teeth already..

I'd be curious to try them out though, i've just quit smoking recently so i'd like to freshen up the look of my teeth. 

After watching that documentary about all the dodgy fake products from China, I don't think i'd take a chance buying anything cosmetic related from E-bay! 

They came in the same packaging as in the USA and were sealed up with plastic around them un-opened...same as when i bought them from the USA.  They werent posted from china either.. they came from Bristol.  Thousands of others gave the seller excellent feedback.  Its up to you tho... if you can get them in boots get them there, I just had no idea they sold them in the shops when i bought it...

One question though, do they hurt your teeth?  I have pretty sensitive teeth already..

The whitestrips did make my teeth really sensitive during the week that I used them.. and towards day 5 they started to feel like they were burning my gums.. but after that 7 days I was fine and was left with whiter teeth. As someone who can't afford £200 for a professional whitening... theyre a good alternative if you can just grit your teeth and bear it (no pun intended).

I go for a cleaning every six months, but if I want a thorough cleaning (or what I call a thorough cleaning), I need to let the dentist know that I want him to do "scaling." And he books in an extra time slot for me as it takes longer than the usual cleaning.

Just a warning about whitening. Whiteners only work on your natural teeth, so if you have crowns, caps, veneers, or anything like that DON'T do it! You'll wind up all patchy with only your uncapped, uncrowned, etc. teeth changing colour.