New findings from consumer group Which? have created significant concerns as patients are forced to turn to private dental care due to a lack of access for NHS services.
Poor treatment outcomes and unclear pricing have led the complaints, with nearly 4 in 10 patients who had problems with private care saying they had experienced excessive costs.
Surveying 1,009 adults, 1 in 5 found that they were paying more upfront than they were originally quoted, and another 1 in 5 felt the price was unclear upfront.
The cost of dental care is an issue felt by both patients and practice teams. Clinicians are increasing the fees for their care due to rising business costs, which affect everything from building upkeep to the price of materials. The only ways to make up the shortfall are, inevitably, by tending to more patients – difficult when appointment books are already filling up – or increasing costs for attendees.
NHS dental prices typically rise year-on-year, but Eddie Crouch, British Dental Association chair, told Which? in May 2026 that NHS dentists are often working at a loss with the care that they provide, further increasing the private fees in order to bridge the gap.
Patients should, however, understand the cost of treatment before accepting a course of care, in order to make considered decisions about their wellbeing. Patients seeking NHS care should be aware if treatment would not fall under their typically price brackets, as laid out in the GDC’s Standards for the Dental Team.
Giving patients clear information about the cost of their care falls under Standard 2.4, as price lists must be available for patients to view in receptions or waiting areas, as well as in practice literature and online.
Patients have reported to Which? ballooning treatment costs following retreatments caused by procedural failures, in one case taking a £3,400 initial treatment past £10,000 in total (the patient recovered two thirds of the additional cost, but felt pursuing further compensation could lead to reduced access to dental care, according to the report).
In such cases, a clear to follow complaints system should be in place for patients to raise concerns. Which? has called for the introduction of an ombudsman for private dental patients, which could investigate disputes and deliver binding decisions across all dental practices.
Private dental practices are also asked to make clear the complaints process, so patients are able to access support when needed.
