Hygienist services in London

Scale and polish, gum-health checks and oral-hygiene advice from a dental hygienist.

  • 1,409 Verified practices
  • £65-£95 Typical "from" price (888 practices' published fees)
  • 33 Borough guides

A dental hygienist specialises in preventive care - cleaning your teeth, removing plaque and tartar, and advising on how to keep your mouth healthy between visits. Regular hygienist appointments are one of the best investments you can make in your dental health.

A hygienist appointment in London typically costs £60-£150 privately. The price varies depending on the length of appointment, the practice location, and whether it includes an airflow polish or deeper treatment. For a full breakdown of treatment costs, see our London dental cost guide.

On the NHS, a hygienist visit is included in a Band 1 check-up at £27.90, but only if your dentist refers you as part of your treatment plan. You can’t book directly with an NHS hygienist. For more on NHS dental access, see our NHS dentist London hub.

Most dentists recommend seeing a hygienist every 6 months, though some patients benefit from more frequent visits every 3-4 months.

A hygienist visit pairs well with regular dental check-ups. If you’re also interested in brightening your smile, see our guide to teeth whitening in London.

This information is a general guide and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. Always consult a qualified dentist about your individual circumstances.

Written and reviewed by the Dentist-London.com Editorial team. Last reviewed 3 March 2026. Prices shown are indicative ranges, not quotes - confirm costs directly with the practice.

1,409 of London's 2,131 CQC-registered practices are verified for hygienist services, taken directly from each practice's own published treatment list, not guessed from directory categories. Across 888 practices with published fees, "from" prices typically range £65-£95. More practices are verified every week.

What hygienist services costs across London

Price is the single most common thing people add to a dental search, and it is the thing directories are usually vaguest about. These are median published "from" prices by borough, taken from practices' own fee pages. The London median is £75.

The cheapest borough we can price is Barking and Dagenham at £40; the dearest is City of London at £125. That is a difference of £85 for the same treatment, which is worth knowing before you book the first practice you find.

BoroughMedian "from" pricePractices
Barking and Dagenham £40 5
Harrow £65 30
Barnet £70 60
Greenwich £70 30
Brent £70 27
Redbridge £70 23
Islington £70 20
Havering £70 16
Wandsworth £75 39
Bromley £75 38
Croydon £75 38
Hammersmith and Fulham £75 33
Southwark £75 25
Enfield £75 22
Kingston upon Thames £75 22
Bexley £75 21
Hillingdon £75 18
Merton £75 16
Lewisham £75 15
Ealing £80 31
Richmond upon Thames £80 28
Hounslow £80 24
Lambeth £80 23
Tower Hamlets £80 23
Haringey £80 21
Sutton £80 18
Hackney £80 14
Newham £80 13
Waltham Forest £85 8
Camden £90 39
Westminster £110 97
Kensington and Chelsea £115 30
City of London £125 21

Boroughs appear here only where at least 5 practices publish a price. The practice count shows how firm each figure is. These are advertised starting prices, not quotes: confirm the full cost with the practice. Same method as our London Dental Cost Index, and every treatment side by side on the dental price list.

Highly rated practices offering hygienist services

Ratings via Google (practices with 10+ reviews). Treatment lists verified from each practice's own website.

Hygienist services by London borough

Find a dentist by borough

Hygienist services: frequently asked questions

How much does a hygienist appointment cost in London?

A hygienist appointment (scale and polish) in London typically costs between £65 and £95, with longer sessions for gum disease costing more.

Is a hygienist available on the NHS?

A basic scale and polish can be included in an NHS check-up where it is clinically needed, but standalone hygienist appointments are usually a private treatment.

How often should I see a hygienist?

Most people benefit from a hygienist visit every six months, alongside their routine check-up. If you have gum disease, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits.

What does a dental hygienist do?

A hygienist removes plaque and tartar that brushing cannot reach, polishes your teeth, and gives tailored advice on cleaning and gum care to prevent decay and gum disease.