In November 2025, HBI covered UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s call on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate the UK’s private dental market. The market study will examine hidden costs and pricing transparency, the effectiveness of local competition, consumer ability to obtain value for money, and potential overtreatment concerns.

What does this prompt for investigation reveal about the state of UK dental care?

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 90.6% of adults without a dentist reported being unable to get an NHS appointment in the previous 28 days. The sector reportedly faces a shortage of approximately 3,000 dentists across both NHS and private provision. In this market with surging demand and limited supply 10.7% of those who were unsuccessful in seeking NHS appointments turned to private dentistry instead. 

But, private dental prices have been climbing steadily since 2022. Tooth extractions, for example, have been up 32% from £105 to £139, white fillings up 23% from £105 to £129, and routine check-ups up 15% from £48 to £55.These prices also vary across region with practices a few miles from each other asking double the price for the same treatment. 

So why are private prices rising so sharply? Dentists cite rising energy bills, lab costs, and higher national insurance contributions.

According to the British Dental Association, private dentistry has also been cross-subsidising loss-making NHS care, as fixed NHS fees don’t cover the actual costs of treatment. According to a 2025 House of Commons Library research briefing NHS England total funding for dental services has fallen from £2.9 billion in 2010-2011 to £2.2 billion (adjusted for inflation) in 2023/2024.

Competition is another key concern. This mirrors the concerns raised in the CMA’s veterinary market investigation, where consolidation led to 60% of practices being owned by large corporate groups. In dentistry, private equity roll-ups often fall below merger control thresholds. With the UK dental market now valued at over £12 billion (in 2023/24) and corporate groups continuing to acquire independent practices, one can understand why the CMA might be keeping a close eye.

While dentistry is a far more fragmented market, if the dental investigation follows the veterinary playbook, consumers could see standardised online price lists, ownership disclosure requirements, and tools to compare costs effectively across different practices.