BDS Dental offers direct access hygiene appointments at our practice on Finchley Road in Golders Green, NW11. This means you can book an appointment directly with one of our dental hygienists without needing to see a dentist first.

Regular professional cleaning is one of the most effective things you can do for your long-term oral health. Our experienced hygiene team see patients for routine appointments, gum disease management, and intensive periodontal treatment.

What Is Direct Access?

Previously, patients in the UK could only see a dental hygienist following a referral from a dentist. A change in regulations means it is now possible for patients to book directly with a hygienist, without a prior dental examination or referral.

At BDS Dental, we offer this direct access route for patients who wish to attend specifically for hygiene treatment. You do not need to be an existing patient of the practice to book. That said, regular dental check-ups with a dentist remain important — a hygienist appointment is not a substitute for a full dental examination, and we will always recommend that you see a dentist if anything during your hygiene appointment suggests this is needed.

Our Dental Hygiene Team

Our hygiene team includes Irina Volk (GDC No: 136789) and Aleksandra Taleb (GDC No: 175908), both of whom are qualified and experienced dental hygienists registered with the General Dental Council.

Irina and Aleksandra are qualified to provide the following treatments:

• Routine scale and polish — removing plaque, tartar, and surface staining from the teeth and along the gum line
• Periodontal charting — measuring the depth of the gum pockets around each tooth to assess the health of the supporting tissues
• Topical anaesthetic — applying numbing gel to the gums before treatment to improve comfort
• Deep scaling under local anaesthetic — cleaning below the gum line in areas affected by gum disease, carried out with local anaesthetic for a comfortable experience
• Application of topical fluoride — placing a fluoride gel or varnish to help strengthen and protect the teeth
• Temporary dressings — placing a short-term protective covering over a tooth when needed
• Dental impressions — taking moulds of the teeth (for example, for whitening trays, though whitening treatment itself must be prescribed and supervised by a dentist)

What to Expect at Your Hygiene Appointment

At your first appointment, your hygienist will review your medical history and assess the current state of your teeth and gums. Depending on how your gums present, they will carry out a scale and polish, removing plaque and hardened tartar that cannot be removed through brushing alone. If there are signs of gum disease, they will explain what they have found and recommend an appropriate course of treatment.

Your hygienist will also offer personalised advice on your oral hygiene routine at home — including brushing technique, floss or interdental brush use, and any areas of your mouth that need particular attention. This tailored guidance is often one of the most practically useful parts of a hygiene visit.

If your gums require more intensive treatment, this may take more than one appointment. Your hygienist will always discuss the recommended course of treatment and associated costs with you before proceeding.

The Benefits of Regular Hygiene Appointments

Plaque builds up continuously on the teeth and, if not removed, hardens into tartar — a calcified deposit that cannot be removed by brushing and requires professional instruments to clear. Left untreated, this accumulation contributes to gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Regular professional cleaning helps to:

• Prevent and manage gum disease at an early, reversible stage
• Reduce the risk of tooth loss associated with periodontitis
• Remove surface staining caused by coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking
• Support fresher breath by removing the bacterial deposits that cause odour
• Maintain the results of other dental treatments, including implants and orthodontics

How frequently you should attend will depend on the health of your gums and your individual risk profile. Your hygienist will advise you on the appropriate interval at the end of your appointment.

What Hygienists Can and Cannot Do

We want all our patients to have a clear understanding of what a direct access hygiene appointment involves, and where its boundaries lie. The following is intended to be helpful and straightforward.

Your hygienist can assess the health of your gums, remove plaque, tartar, and bacterial deposits, provide oral hygiene advice, treat gum disease within their scope of practice, and advise on the progression of any gum condition they identify.

However, hygienists are not dentists and there are aspects of dental care that fall outside their scope of practice. They cannot diagnose tooth decay, broken or cracked teeth, or other dental conditions, and they cannot prescribe medications such as antibiotics or pain relief. If your hygienist identifies a concern that requires a dentist’s assessment, they will let you know and recommend you book an appointment accordingly. In rare cases — for example, where there is a significant concern about your general health or the condition of your mouth — your hygienist may ask you to see a dentist before continuing treatment.

If a dentist appointment is required during or following your hygiene visit, the standard consultation fee will apply. Your hygienist will always make you aware of any additional costs before they arise.

Hygiene Appointment Fees

Standard hygiene appointments at BDS Dental start from £126. The cost of your treatment will depend on the extent of cleaning required and the number of appointments needed to complete it. Your hygienist will provide a clear indication of the expected cost and number of visits at your initial appointment.

For a full overview of our fees, please visit our dental fees page. To book a hygiene appointment, please contact our team.