I think my dentist is trying to rip us off, and have a few questions
for any pros out there.

The first thing is that I had some deeper pockets in my gums, I got
one full mouth irrigation, and was instructed on a better way to brush
and chastised to floss more often, which I did.  The next visit to the
dentist saw great improvement, although not perfect.  The hygienist
was insisting that I get another irrigation, which I refused as I felt
my home treatment was working, I didn't have any problems.  The
doctor, upon hearing I refused, looked at my charts, looked at my
teeth, and said I probably didn't need it.

On my last visit, I had the best results yet - all with no more
irrigations, yet when I first arrive they want me to sign a proposed
treatment plan that includes irrigation before I've even been
examined.  I cross off the irrigation and home fluoride treatment, and
then sign it, and there's no protests.

So, they've realized I'm a hard-a.s and don't push me.

Now my wife, who's from south America and speaks with an accent, went
in today and had the same treatment plan shown to her; then they start
off measuring the pockets in the gums and she did worse than me - but
no worse, it seems, then I had the first time I refused irrigation.
In addition, they added "sub irrigation" and "perio sc/rp" and didn't
explain what it was.

So my question is what is the difference between irrigation and sub
irrigation, and what exactly is "perio sc/rp"?

When my wife asked if she could just get the cleaning, they refused,
saying they wouldn't do it without doing the other things first.  The
doctor said he could lose his license for only doing "half the job" if
some problem arises (it seems to me you'd not the patient refused
treatment).

I'm not saying she shouldn't get these things - I'm not a dentist, I
don't know.  But it seems to me they shouldn't refuse a basic
cleaning, either.