Private dentists are using “misleading” pricing to charge patients more amid a crisis in NHS access, according to an investigation into 8,000 practices.
Campaigners are warning of a “wild west” of dental pricing as analysis shows most practices now employ minimum-only pricing that can end up costing patients much more. The investigation, conducted for the Mirror by myTribe insurance, found the average “from” price for most treatments is higher than the typical price at practices that give a single fixed figure – despite this listed price only being a minimum.
The probe comes after the government instructed the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate private dentistry in Britain, including pricing transparency, with its findings expected next year.
‘From’ Prices Higher Than Fixed Rates
Chris Steele, founder of myTribe, said: "A price list is meant to show what you can expect to pay, but 'from' prices can often be misleading. Without a maximum price, how are patients to know what the treatment will actually cost?"
Steele added: "A fair price is one both sides can see before the work starts. A ‘from’ price shows the patient the least they will pay and leaves the most to the practice. That isn’t a fair split for the person footing the bill."
The analysis by myTribe looked at over 200,000 prices advertised by 8,158 private practices, which make up two-thirds of those listed on the UK's dental register. Its earlier findings were cited by the CMA when opening its investigation.
Campaigners Warn of ‘Wild West’
Dr John Puntis, co-chair of campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, said: "With the collapse of NHS dental provision, suffering patients now find themselves in a wild west populated by cowboy dentists seeking not just to extract teeth but maximum profit."
Puntis added: "This should be another red flag to government that re-establishing dentistry as a part of the NHS and available to all is an absolute priority if it is serious about its promises to prioritise prevention over treatment and restore a badly damaged system of health care."
The General Dental Council suggests a “from – to” price range is shown, but in Britain it is rare for a full price range to be listed. An upper limit was listed by only 3% of practices for a crown and 1% for an implant. The situation contrasts with the Republic of Ireland, where dentists have been barred from listing minimum-only pricing since 2011.
Cost Differences and Patient Stories
The probe found the typical “from” starting price was higher than the UK average price at private practices that list a fixed price for 13 of the 18 dental treatments compared. A full denture was £900 on average at practices that listed a fixed price but starts “from” £1,065 at practices that give a minimum-only price. A single implant had an average fixed price of £2,500 compared to the “from” price of £2,613, while a bridge was £695 fixed against £749 when listed as minimum-only.
It comes a week after a report on private dentistry by consumer group Which? included the case of one man who was initially quoted £3,400 for a root canal following a football injury – before his costs ballooned past £10,000 when several failed treatments meant he was repeatedly charged for further appointments to fix it.
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said: "Patients deserve clarity on pricing, but dentistry is rarely one size fits all, and you will struggle to boil complex treatments down to a restaurant-style menu."
Crouch added: "Dentists will typically face predictable costs on a checkup, but from fillings to implants overheads will change based on size, complexity and materials. Ultimately, no care should begin without a fully costed treatment plan. If anything changes, a new costing must be provided and new consent obtained."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "No one should have to choose between paying their bills and looking after their teeth. The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating whether patients are getting a fair deal when accessing private care. But we also recognise more people need access to NHS dentistry, which is why we have taken immediate action to put dental care within everyone's reach - prioritising patients with the greatest need and ensuring dentists deliver a required amount of urgent care."
The spokesperson added: "This government has delivered millions of additional courses of dental treatment, bolstered the workforce with more dental school places, and is exploring how to require newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for at least three years."
Georgie Mikolajewicz, from Cheshire, had to go private at her dental practice to fix a broken tooth after being told they were no longer taking NHS patients. The 37-year-old stay at home mum-of-four said: "It was an emergency so I had no choice. It cost me £90 but I'm not sure it was even done properly as I can still feel where there is a big chunk missing."
Mikolajewicz added: "After fixing my tooth the dentist told me that I needed multiple teeth removing. They wanted around £120 per tooth, which I could not afford. They really pushed for it every time I went in though. They also told me I needed to book in with a hygienist for a cleaning every six months at £35 a time. Soon after they opened the NHS list but I was told I couldn't switch to being an NHS patient."
She said: "The same surgery removed my husband's tooth and had been quoted £90… but then they charged him £50 more afterwards, which he didn't realise due to being woozy. I queried it and received no response. It was only when I posted on social media - something I never do - they contacted me and said if I removed the post, they would refund the money."
Mikolajewicz concluded: "We have since found a fantastic NHS dentist who said that I didn't need the teeth removed and that my dental hygiene was great and he has never recommended a hygienist."
