The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a review into the £8.4bn private dentistry market after independent data showed the price of an initial consultation rose by over 23% between 2022 and 2024, reaching £80. Routine check-ups for existing patients increased by more than 14% to £55 over the same period.
The watchdog said it wanted to ensure the market was 'working well for consumers' amid rising demand for private care. One in five people in Great Britain sought private dental treatment in 2024, partly due to difficulties accessing NHS services. The CMA emphasised that the review was 'not a criticism of clinicians or the care they provide, but an examination of how the market is working for consumers'.
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell noted that many patients may 'be uncertain about costs, availability, treatment options and what they’re entitled to'. She added: 'For some, turning to private dentistry is a choice – but for many, it’s a necessity.' The regulator has launched an online guide to help people choose and pay for dental treatment and is seeking public feedback on experiences.
The review follows a call from Chancellor Rachel Reeves in November 2025, who cited the 'scourge of hidden costs, lack of transparency and overtreatment'. The CMA will examine issues such as finding a dentist, understanding prices, and accessing urgent care. The investigation could lead to direct action or changes in industry regulation.
The British Dental Association (BDA) said it would help the CMA understand the 'complex realities of delivering private dentistry'. It highlighted that dentists with NHS contracts were providing care at a loss, relying on a cross-subsidy of over £400m a year from private activity to break even. BDA chair Eddie Crouch described the government's call for an investigation as a 'fig leaf for its failure to properly fund NHS care'.
