Patients likely to be able to shop around

The Office of Fair Trading says patients are often not told by private dentists that they could save money by having the same treatment carried out on the NHS.

The private sector needs to be policed better to make sure patients are not "ripped off", it says.

The report says they should be told much more, and given a written treatment plan which spells out exactly what care they will be given and how much it is going to cost.

The OFT carried out a year-long inquiry into private dentistry in response to complaints that some customers were being misled.

More information

Private dentistry is expanding rapidly, with around seven million people regularly receiving treatment.

Many have turned to the private sector because it is so hard to find an NHS dentist who can take them on.

Patients are not being well served by either NHS or private care Frances Blunden, Consumers' Association

The market is currently valued at �1 billion.

But the OFT found several areas where it said improvements could be made.

It recommends a raft of changes including a stronger regulatory framework and the introduction of complaints procedures at dental practices.

The regulations that govern the supply of private dental services are too restrictive, said the OFT.

Its report said they limit choice for patients and freedom to develop for dentists.

It also plans to launch an awareness campaign to help consumers choose dentists and treatments.

The OFT says patients should ask practices for a list of treatments and services, check if it is accredited and if it has a complaints procedure.

Price differences

The investigation followed concerns raised by the Consumers' Association that patients were being "ripped off" by private dentists keen to cash in on the fact that many people were finding it increasingly difficult to find an NHS dentist.

The CA uncovered cases where people had no choice but to "go private" - and were paying up to six times more for routine treatment than they would on the NHS.

People complained, too, that there were substantial price differences between practices and a lack of clarity about the cost of various treatments.

One practice in Nottingham was found to charge �102 for a simple check up, scale and polish. Another in Edinburgh charged �88.

Frances Blunden, principal policy advisor for the Consumers' Association, said the report was: "a wake up call for private dentists and is a warning that they must drag themselves into the 21st century.

"It also serves notice on the Department of Health that they are under pressure to tackle the problem of access to dentistry."

She added: "Patients are not being well served by either NHS or private care and the DoH needs to take a comprehensive approach to dental care."

Dentists' response

Speaking ahead of the publication of the OFT report, Dr John Renshaw, of the British Dental Association (BDA), said: "Dentists recognise the paramount importance of ensuring transparent and clear information for patients.

"In response to the OFT report, the BDA will be calling for a joint initiative by the BDA, government and the Consumers' Association to launch a major public information campaign for patients.

"This will explain charges, treatments available and set out what patients can expect from their local dentist.

"Let's use this report to move the agenda forward and get patients the clarity they want."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Dr Evan Harris MP said: "There should not be unfair practices in private dentistry � but patients should not be driven to private dental care in the first place.