Whats the difference between a hygienist vs dentist scale and polish?

The Hygienist appointment is longer and the treatment more thorough.

The Treatment Benefit Scheme differentiates between a light cleaning of staining and supragingival plaque from teeth (€15) and more comprehensive cleaning of subgingival plaque and pockets between teeth (Private fee minus the PRSI fee).

A dentist may do the light cleaning at the end of an examination appointment if the patient requests it and only wants to pay the €15 fee, spend 5-10mins, doesn’t touch the plaque under the gum. But the patient might then wonder why their teeth are not that well cleaned, and why the gum inflammation isn’t healing. On the other hand, Hygienists will typically spend 30-40 mins cleaning under the gums, do a more thorough job, and the patient will benefit more from the subgingival plaque removal.

So it’s really up to you, if you only want to spend €15, you can’t expect the more comprehensive clean a Hygienist provides, and which you may need. Occasionally patients request only the S&P, they are booked in for a short appointment, it is explained that they may need plaque removal from under the gum which will not be done during the S&P appointment, and they will have to come back to the Hygienist for that, and pay the full private fee, therefore costing more than seeing the Hygienist in the first place.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/1fb655-treatment-benefit-scheme/

No prob, glad to help.