Many patients in the United Kingdom are facing escalating costs and varying quality of care in private dentistry, according to a recent investigation by consumer group Which?. The probe found that some individuals have been charged thousands of pounds more than initially quoted, with complaints ranging from poor treatment outcomes to high-pressure sales tactics.

Which? surveyed 5,848 people across Britain and reported that 17% said they or their children had encountered issues with private dental care in the last two years. Among these, 22% paid more than their initial quote, and 26% expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment received. Additionally, 10% reported that clinical mistakes were made during their care, while 16% described feeling pressured into specific treatments. Overall, 39% of respondents described private dental costs as “excessive.”

The investigation highlighted several individual cases underscoring these concerns. One man, identified as Marc, was initially quoted £3,400 for a root canal after a football-related injury; however, multiple failed treatments increased his bill to more than £10,000. Another patient, Richard, experienced severe pain after a routine crown replacement left his tooth roots exposed. Becky, a young mother, recounted being “held to ransom” when her dental practice refused to schedule check-ups for herself and her child until she paid an allegedly incorrect £125 whitening fee.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection at Which?, emphasized that patients often face unexpected bills and treatment problems but rarely receive adequate resolutions. “Some were too worried about damaging their relationship with their dentist to complain at all,” Davies said. Unlike the National Health Service (NHS) dentistry sector, private dental patients do not have access to an independent watchdog for complaints, which advocates warn leaves them vulnerable.

Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), linked the rise in private dentistry—and the issues arising with it—to systemic challenges within NHS dental services. “There is an elephant in the room here. The extraordinary growth of private dentistry is the direct consequence of successive governments failing to fix and fund NHS dentistry,” Crouch stated. The shortcomings in NHS provision have reportedly pushed many patients toward private alternatives, where costs and quality of care can be highly inconsistent.

The findings highlight growing concerns over the transparency, affordability, and oversight of private dental care in the UK, underscoring calls for improved regulation and support for NHS dental services.