Dental patients ‘face huge cost variations’

Patients in Leeds could expect to pay between £23 and £50 for a check-up depending on which clinic they choose.

In-clinic teeth whitening could cost between £270 and £697 and implants from £1,500 to £2,350 across the city.

The survey of 500 clinics nationwide by search engine WhatClinic.com found the cost of a dental implant in Sheffield was £2,000, but this fell to £1,375 in Manchester.

Nationally prices for front tooth root canal treatment ranged from £57 in Newcastle to up to £600 in London – a difference of 953 per cent.

Thousands of NHS patients have been forced to seek private treatment in recent years after dentists pulled out of the health service over a controversial new contract.

More NHS places are now being made available following major changes although access remains patchy.

WhatClinic.com said patients appeared to be unaware of the potential savings available.

A survey of 500 users of the website found 84 per cent had been put off treatment because of the costs involved.

A quarter were prepared to travel for more than an hour to get cheaper care.

Philip Boyle, from the search engine, said price variations between clinics were the result of a number of factors but cost should not be the only factor patients took into consideration when choosing a clinic.

“The experience of the dentists involved, the equipment they use and their location can all be factors in why prices vary from clinic to clinic,” he said.

“Members of the public should check online for additional information including qualifications, treatment reviews from past patients and customer service feedback so they can make a better informed choice when deciding which clinic is right for them,” he added.