South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Airflow or a standard scale and polish: which hygiene visit do you need?
Both appointments are led by a hygienist, both last half an hour, and both leave your gums healthier than they were. The difference lies in what happens to the surface of the teeth once the tartar has gone. A standard visit finishes with a polishing paste; the Airflow version adds a fine jet of warm water, air and powder that lifts stubborn staining and the sticky bacterial film that paste tends to leave behind.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Standard hygiene if…
- You attend for hygiene every six months and staining has never been a concern for you.
- Your dentist has asked you to focus on gum health rather than appearance.
- You would prefer the lower fee and are happy with a paste polish.
- You are a new patient trying a hygienist visit for the first time and want to keep things simple.
Choose Hygiene with Airflow if…
- Tea, coffee, red wine or tobacco have left brown or yellow marks that brushing does not shift.
- You have bonding, veneers, an implant or a fixed retainer and want a method that is kinder to those surfaces.
- Scaling with metal instruments makes your teeth twinge and you would like a gentler finish.
- You are preparing for whitening, an event or photographs and want the brightest result a clean can give.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Standard hygiene | Hygiene with Airflow |
|---|---|---|
| What is included | Ultrasonic and hand scaling, then a paste polish | The full standard clean, followed by an Airflow jet stage aimed at stains and biofilm |
| Stain removal | Modest; surface marks are softened by polishing | Thorough; drink and tobacco stains are largely cleared |
| Plaque and tartar | Removed above and just below the gumline | Identical scaling, plus a finer sweep of bacterial film the paste misses |
| Comfort | Scaling can feel sharp on sensitive teeth | The Airflow stage avoids metal-on-tooth contact and tends to feel softer |
| Cosmetic effect | Smooth, clean teeth with a small lift in brightness | A visibly brighter smile because staining and film are both cleared |
| Appointment length | 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Fee | £89 | £142 |
| New patient fee | £49 | £102 (£49 plus the £53 Airflow add-on) |
| Best suited to | Routine gum maintenance | Anyone with visible staining or restorations who wants a deeper cosmetic clean |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Standard hygiene
The hygienist begins by checking your gums and noting any bleeding or pocketing. Hardened deposits are loosened with an ultrasonic tip that vibrates and rinses at the same time, then finer hand instruments tidy the areas the ultrasonic cannot reach. The visit ends with a rotating cup and a gritty paste that smooths the enamel and takes off light surface marks. You leave with tailored advice on brushing and interdental cleaning.
Hygiene with Airflow
Everything above still happens. Once the scaling is finished, the hygienist switches to the Airflow handpiece, which sprays a controlled mix of warm water, air and a very fine powder across each tooth. The stream reaches between teeth, around brackets, along gum margins and over restorations, dissolving stained film without abrading the surface. Because the powder is soft and the water is warmed, most patients find this stage the most comfortable part of the appointment.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
A standard hygiene appointment at Wimpole Street will be £89, and hygiene with Airflow £142; the Airflow stage on its own is a £53 add-on. New patients booking a first hygienist visit pay £49, or £102 if they choose to include Airflow.
Neither treatment is permanent. Tartar and staining return at the rate your diet and cleaning allow, so most people benefit from a visit every six months. Those who drink a lot of tea or coffee, or who smoke, sometimes prefer a three or four-monthly interval with Airflow included.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Standard hygiene
Strengths
- Covers every clinical essential: tartar removal, gum assessment and home-care advice
- Lower fee, with a £49 introductory rate for new patients
- Finishes in half an hour
- Suits patients whose teeth are clean but who need gum health monitored
Trade-offs
- Polishing paste only softens staining; deep marks often remain
- Metal scaling can feel uncomfortable on exposed or sensitive teeth
- Leaves more bacterial film on the surface than an Airflow finish
Hygiene with Airflow
Strengths
- Adds targeted stain and biofilm removal to the standard clean, in the same 30 minutes
- Gentler around bonding, veneers, implants and orthodontic wires
- Produces a visibly brighter result without bleaching
- Often more comfortable for patients who dislike scaling
Trade-offs
- Costs £53 more than a standard appointment
- Does not lighten the underlying shade of the tooth; only whitening does that
- The powder spray feels unfamiliar to some patients on the first visit
FAQ
Common questions
No. Airflow removes stain and soft bacterial film, but it does not break up hardened tartar. At Wimpole Street it is always added on top of a full scale, never offered in place of one.
It makes them look cleaner and brighter by clearing external staining, and many patients are surprised how much difference that alone makes. It does not change the natural colour of the enamel, so if you want a lighter shade you would look at whitening afterwards.
Yes, and it is often the preferred method for those surfaces. The fine powder cleans around margins without the scratching that coarse pastes can cause, which helps restorations keep their polish.
The powder is very fine and mildly flavoured, and the hygienist uses high-volume suction throughout. Most patients describe a light gritty sensation for a moment rather than a taste.
Every six months suits most adults. If you have gum disease, wear a fixed retainer or stain quickly, your hygienist may suggest every three or four months. The interval is set for you, not by a fixed rule.
The Marylebone diary opens for booking shortly before 1 October 2026. Until then, the same hygienists work at our South Kensington and St Paul’s clinics, and your records move with you if you switch to Wimpole Street later.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
