Patients 'must question dentists'

The cost of private dentistry can vary widely

Patients are being urged to demand more information from dentists before they have treatment.

The Office for Fair Trading has launched a campaign to encourage patients to ask dentists about the cost and need for treatment.

The campaign is being backed up by a leaflet which spells out the questions patients should ask.

It follows the OFT report into private dentistry, published earlier this year.

'Paying too much'

It suggested some patients may be paying too much for dental care because dentists do not give them the full facts.

It found huge variations in the cost of private treatment, with some practices charging four times as much as others.

One patient's experience

I was in the dentist's chair when I was asked to decide between two types of fillings, one for £20 and one for £65.

I took the most expensive option but I felt I made the wrong decision. It was very intimidating

Martin Etheridge

Its report showed that the average dental examination costs £20.07. However, some private dentists charged just £9.50 while others charged £40.

Similarly, the cost of an amalgam filling ranged from £10 to £54.25.

Ministers have ordered private dentists to display the cost of treatments in light of the report's findings.

Dentists will now also be expected to give patients written treatment plans and to issue itemised accounts for treatment carried out.

In addition, they will have to prominently display what services are available on the NHS and what services the practice provides privately.

The OFT leaflet advises patients to discuss their dental needs in advance before starting treatment.

It also suggests they should ask to see a sample price list and compare the cost with other practices.

In addition, patients should ask for a written, costed treatment plan and a fully itemised bill after treatment.

John Vickers, chairman of the OFT, said he hoped the campaign will change current practices.

"We hope to distribute the leaflet very widely to GP surgeries, libraries and we are hoping even dental practitioners themselves will put them in their practices," he told BBC News Online.

'Consumer orientated'

"We would like the dental market to become more consumer orientated.

"It has grown very rapidly in recent years but that time has now come for dentists to provide better information to patients."

John Renshaw, of the British Dental Association, welcomed the campaign.

"Communication between patient and dentist is vital if the patient is to get the best from their treatment.

"That is why the BDA recommends that its members provide written cost estimates for patients and treatment plans, which they can take away with them before making a decision.

"This leaflet should help patients ask the right questions about their treatment and charges."