How much does a scale and polish cost?
Published private prices from dental practices across the North of England, compared with the NHS charge.
Written by Sul Malik, dental student at Newcastle University and founder of DentalCompare · Updated 30 October 2026 · Prices checked October 2026
Lowest published
£25
Typical (median)
£77
Middle half
£65–£89
half of practices charge in this range
Practices
273
publish a price
On the NHS
£27.90
Band 1 charge, England
On the NHS, scaling is part of Band 1 when it is clinically needed; more extensive gum treatment is Band 2. If it is not clinically needed, it is paid for privately.
NHS dentists accepting new patientsScale and Polish Cost (Hygienist) by area
Lowest and typical (median) published price in each area we cover. Select an area to see and compare every practice there.
| Area | From | Typical | Practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | £44.50 | £76 | 38 |
| Durham | £40 | £78 | 25 |
| Sunderland | £58 | £69 | 10 |
| Middlesbrough | £59 | £75 | 10 |
| Gateshead | £45 | £75 | 17 |
| Darlington | £37 | £84 | 8 |
| Hartlepool | £65 | £75 | 7 |
| North Tyneside | £25 | £67 | 12 |
| South Tyneside | £35 | £77 | 12 |
| Stockton-on-Tees | £70 | £87 | 18 |
| Bishop Auckland | £40 | £85 | 5 |
| Consett | £35.68 | £77 | 5 |
| Northumberland | £39 | £74 | 23 |
| Peterlee | £65 | £71 | 2 |
| Redcar | £55 | £70 | 5 |
| Washington | £35 | £67 | 2 |
| York | £58 | £83 | 33 |
| North Yorkshire | £45 | £81 | 38 |
| East Yorkshire | £77 | £79 | 3 |
From clinics' published information, last checked October 2026. Areas with no published price are left out.
Lowest published scale and polish / hygienist prices
- 1.
North Tyneside
Price details: Dentist simple full mouth scale £25 · Therapist full mouth extensive clean (per session) £53.50 · Dentist full mouth extensive clean / periodontal treatment £80
from
£25
- 2.
from
£35
- 3.
Washington
Price details: 'Routine scale and polish (regular patient) from £35'.
from
£35
- 4.
Consett
Price details: Scale & polish (hygienist) from £35.68 · Airflow £83.16 · Advanced gum treatment (4 visits) from £427.48
from
£35.68
- 5.
Darlington
Price details: Routine cleaning from £37 · Hygienist (30 minutes) from £73
from
£37
- 6.
Northumberland
Price details: Scale and polish £39 · Scale and polish with local anaesthetic (40 mins) £78 · Direct access scale & polish (40 mins) £78 · Air Flow £60 · Periodontal…
from
£39
- 7.
Bishop Auckland
Price details: 'Hygienist Scale and Polish'; Airpolishing £60, Perio £60/visit, +£10 PPE charge.
from
£40
- 8.
Durham
Price details: Hygienist scale and polish £40 · Air polishing £60 · Hygienist perio £60 per visit
from
£40
- 9.
Newcastle
Price details: Scale and polish £44.50 · Prophyjet £80 · Periodontal treatment £133
from
£44.50
- 10.
from
£44.50
Scale and polish / hygienist "from" prices as published by each practice, lowest first. Price details are summarised from each practice's published price list. The price you pay depends on your assessment, so always confirm with the practice.
What affects the price
A scale and polish removes hardened plaque (tartar) and staining from the teeth. Privately it is usually done by a dental hygienist.
- The length of the appointment. Many practices list a price for a set time, such as 30 minutes.
- Whether it is a routine clean or deeper gum treatment.
- Air-polishing or stain removal, which some practices offer as an extra.
Questions to ask before you book
- How long is the appointment for this price?
- Can I book a hygienist without being a registered patient?
- Is it included in the practice's membership plan, if they have one?
Whether a treatment is right for you, and what it will cost, can only be decided after a dentist has examined you. These prices are a starting point for comparing practices, not a quote.
Sources
NHS charges in England, effective 1 April 2026. Source: NHS.uk. Last checked 12 October 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland charge differently.