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Study follows concerns raised by Which? about whether patients are getting good service from private and NHS dentists
Dentists are about to open wide for the Office of Fair Trading, who are launching a study into whether patients are getting good service from the private and NHS dentistry markets.
The OFT will investigate concerns raised by consumer bodies including suggestions that many patients are confused by dental treatments and prices.
The study will drill into:
• how dentistry services are sold
• whether patients are given appropriate information to help them choose between practices, the types of treatment on offer and different payment methods
• how easy it is to change dentists
• whether the system for customer redress works
Following its study on private healthcare in May, Which? told the OFT that patients lacked a source of comparable information on private dental prices, that indicative private prices are rarely on display in private dental surgeries, and that patients had mixed views about their dentist recommending cosmetic treatments.
The OFT will also consider whether there are any unnecessary barriers to new dental practices entering either the NHS or private markets, and consider the issue of restricted access to specialists or providers of auxiliary services, such as hygienists.
The OFT said that while it recognised that the UK had some of the highest standards of oral care in the world, the cost of private treatment was also very high.
Sonya Branch, OFT senior director for services, infrastructure and public markets, said: "Patients appear to be confused about the prices they are being charged and concerns have been raised that they may not be getting sufficient information or adequate choice.
"We also note that the costs of private dental treatment in England are among the highest in Europe. Given the current strains on people's finances, we think it is a good time to examine whether competition is working effectively to drive up the quality of private and NHS dental services and deliver better value for money for consumers."
The UK dental services market was worth £7.2bn in 2010 and this is expected to rise to £8.2bn by 2014, with most of the growth coming from private dentists.
The OFT will work with the General Dental Council, the Department of Health, the Care Quality Commission and others during the course of its study and plans to complete it by March 2012. It will also seek representations from dentistry providers and trade bodies. Parties interested in contributing can contact the OFT at dentistry@oft.gsi.gov.uk.
Jill Insley
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