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Filling the gaps in the private dentistry market

PN 92/03    3 July 2003

OFT launches consumer information campaign

Consumers can get themselves a better deal by asking dentists for clearer information on prices and treatment options, says the OFT in a campaign launched today. Around seven million people regularly receive private dental care.

Download Your guide to private dentistry (pdf file 88 kb).
See consumer information pages. 

In a study of the private dentistry market, currently worth over £1 billion, the OFT found that consumers lack the necessary information on prices and treatment options to make choices about which dental services best meet their needs. The majority of dental practices do not publish guide prices for common treatments or provide an estimate of individual treatment costs in advance (see note 4).

The OFT has produced a leaflet 'Your guide to private dentistry' to help consumers ask the right questions when choosing a new dental practice, when considering particular treatments and when considering how to pay for treatment. It also lists sources of help in finding NHS dental care.

The OFT recommends that dental practices provide - and that consumers ask for:

• the cost of registration and an initial examination
• guide prices on treatments and services
• written and costed treatment plans, with information on alternatives where appropriate
• itemised invoices after treatment.

Dentists should also make it clear whether a treatment is being provided on the NHS or privately, and explain what procedures they have in place to resolve complaints.

Launching the campaign, John Vickers, OFT Chairman said: 'The market for private dental care has expanded rapidly in recent years but is not yet fully consumer-focused. Consumers themselves can help make the market more competitive by asking for better information on prices and services.'

1. Download the OFT leaflet Your guide to private dentistry (pdf file 88 kb).  It is also available from GP surgeries, and can be ordered from the publications page or by telephoning our mailing house on 0870 60 60 321.

2. The OFT's report 'The private dentistry market in the UK' was published in March 2003 following a year-long study (see PN 29/03). The study was undertaken in response to a super-complaint from the Consumers' Association in October 2001. Under the Enterprise Act, a super-complaint is a fast-track procedure under which a designated consumer body makes a complaint to the OFT that a feature or combination of features of a market in the UK is, or appears to be, significantly harming consumers' interests.
Download the report The private dentistry market in the UK (pdf file 651 kb)
See the private dentistry market studies page

3. The report made a number of recommendations to Government to remedy problems that had been identified in the market for private dentistry. These included:

The Government published its response to the OFT proposals on 23 June 2003 (see DTI's press notice)

4. As part of its study into the market for private dentistry, the OFT carried out a survey of dental practices, a consumer survey and a mystery shop.  The survey of dental practices showed that only 40 per cent of practices published guide prices for treatments and services. The mystery shop found only 21 per cent of practices published this information. The consumer survey found that 47 per cent of private patients were given an estimate of treatment costs in advance.

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