Watchdog calls for reform of dental profession

CONSUMERS have suffered price rises of more than 170% in dental fees because of restrictive trade practices and a shortage of dentists, consumer watchdogs revealed yesterday.

The cost of dental work has risen at twice the rate of inflation over the past eight years while patients are waiting up to four years for treatment.

Yesterday, the Competition Authority urged a wide-ranging overhaul of the profession to reduce prices and increase the availability of dental care.

The authority’s three-year study of dentistry found professional codes of conduct, and the law, meant consumers were kept in the dark on prices while patients were prevented from seeking even the most basic care from anyone but a fully qualified dentist.

The authority recommended the profession lifts its ban on advertising and on offering discounts, and also starts listing prices, so consumers can shop around for the best treatment.

The Irish Dental Association, which represents 1,500 dentists, yesterday warned the recommendations risked sacrificing competitiveness over professionalism.

But Competition Authority chairman Bill Prasifka said: “Consumers are in the dark when it comes to shopping around for a dentist, so why shouldn’t dentists advertise and compete on the same terms as any other business?”

Calling for significant reforms within the industry and within the State’s health service, Mr Prasifka said the interests of consumers had to come before those of the profession.

Pinning the blame on outdated regulations, the authority said consumers in Ireland were not benefiting from the kind of competition enjoyed by patients abroad.

Too few dentists were being trained in Ireland with the demand for dental services outstripping the supply of qualified men and women to do the work.

The result was a 171% rise in dental fees in the eight years since autumn 1989, compared with a rise in general prices of 69% in the same time, meaning dental costs are rising by at least twice the rate of inflation.

The Government was also criticised for failing to advertise the availability of free dental care, for which 80% of Ireland’s 4.3 million population are eligible.

The authority made a raft of recommendations, including overhauling restrictive practices as fixed in law and by dentists’ codes of conduct.

The IDA said it would endorse what it called responsible proposals to encourage competitiveness within the profession but warned against reforms just for money’s sake.

IDA chief executive Ciara Murphy said the Government could help by publicising more widely free dental care.

“When it comes to oral health, prevention is better than cure and annual oral examinations, which most people are entitled to free of charge, can help avoid the need for higher end dental treatments,” said Ms Murphy.