I didn't realize that you could get a cleaning on the NHS. Our dental visits are covered under the NHS but I always pay private for a cleaning. It lasts about 30 minutes. I see the dentist and have my teeth cleaned every 6 months.
Off topic-has anyone received braces on the NHS? I was told that our 9 year old will qualify under the NHS, but the dentist won't put her on the waiting list until she looses a few more teeth. It was no surprise that she needs braces but I always assumed that we would have to pay. If the waiting list is years long (like I'm betting it will be) we will just go private.
I have never had braces (Haven't lost enough teeth, and my problem seems to be genetic, and I had the teeth whipped out anyway!) But from my friend's experiances, the waiting lists are very long...some friends said that it's 4 years for them. But really it will depend on where you live as well. And it might well be a good idea to ask the dentist how long the waiting list is, and if it is a few years, then your daughter is most likely to have already lost some more teeth by the time she has her appointment, and it's easier to correct problems when they are younger.
In my area the waiting list is long because there is such a high demand for dentist in our area, the practice I go to has a two strikes system, so I wouldn't expect it to be 4 years for braces