Four of Britain’s largest dental groups posted a combined £1.2 billion in gross profits over the past two years, prompting the Chancellor to ask the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to examine rising costs in the sector.
The firms — My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental and Bupa Dental Services — reported gross profits of £528 million in 2023 and £631 million in 2024. That represents a roughly 20% year-on-year increase.
The Chancellor accused the sector of a “scourge of hidden costs, lack of transparency and overtreatment” that has hit families seeking dental care. The CMA said the market must work well for consumers and that it is exploring a proposal to take forward to its board.
Padmel.com analysis highlighted wide price gaps between NHS and private care. It found routine treatments such as a white filling — about £75.30 on the NHS — can cost “hundreds of pounds” at some private equity-owned practices.
Access problems in the NHS are compounding the issue. Only 40% of adults have seen an NHS dentist in the past two years, down from around half before the pandemic. Large areas of the country are now described as NHS “dental deserts,” pushing patients toward private clinics.
The Association of Dental Groups warned that, without a significant increase in new dentists, inflationary pressures across the sector are likely to continue.
The CMA’s next steps will determine whether tighter rules or enforcement follow to curb costs and improve transparency for patients.
