Dentist group slashes treatment prices by 30%

THE cost of visiting the dentist is set to plunge as the country’s largest dental group slashed prices by 30%.

The move is aimed at stopping people travelling to the North where dental services are a third cheaper.

It is expected this will also result in a price war among the country’s dentists, where prices have increased by more than 2% over the last year, according to the Central Statistics Office.

Smiles Dental Group said it has renegotiated costs with its dentists, landlords, suppliers and laboratories to enable it to pass on savings to patients.

Chief executive of the Irish Dental Association Fintan Hourihan said dentists across the country are either freezing or dropping prices in an ever competitive market.

“This move by Smiles is further evidence that there is real competition out there,” said Mr Hourihan.

Smiles said dropping its prices should encourage patients to maintain their dental health following the elimination of employee PRSI dental treatment relief which took effect last Friday.

Changes in the budget meant workers with sufficient PRSI payments can no longer claim two free dental check-ups a year, a teeth-cleaning session and discounts on other work.

Following the changes an oral examination is now the only entitlement a PRSI employee patient can claim relief for under the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme.

Managing director of Smiles, Emmet O’Neill said the move to cut prices was required to ensure that dental treatments remained affordable.

“We have decided to match the prices charged by dentists in Northern Ireland so that patients will maintain their dental health regime. With the elimination of the Government’s dental benefit PRSI scheme which thousands of employees have availed of over the years, together with the ever increasing volume of patients travelling to Northern Ireland for treatment, we decided a radical move was required to ensure that dental treatment remains an affordable necessity, available locally.”

A survey by Consumer Choice magazine found that the cost of dental services in Dublin was, on average, almost 30% higher than the same services in Belfast.

Also over the last few years there has been a surge in dentistry tourism with countries such as Poland and Hungary offering prices at a fraction of the cost in Ireland.

Mr Hourihan said the operating costs for dentists in Ireland can be up to €100,000 more than in the North.