Consumer Watchdog issues warning to Dental Patients
A consumer watchdog has issued a warning to dental patients in Ireland; according to the watchdog some dentists are charging extremely high rates and patients could save hundreds, even thousands of pounds by shopping around or travelling to other countries for treatment.
An investigation by the Irish Independent revealed that dental prices vary according to the dentist and the region; research showed that patients could pay between1,100 and 3,000 Euros for a set of metal dentures in the Republic of Ireland, while dentists in Newry, Northern Ireland charged just798 Euros for the same treatment. The cost of a crown also varied considerably; dentists in the Republic charged between 500 and 975 Euros, in Northern Ireland the same treatment cost between 331 and 514 Euros and in Hungary, the treatment was available from just 239 Euros.
The Consumers Association of Ireland said that the significant variations in price were alarming; Chief Executive, Dermot Jewell, said that dentists in the Republic have been blaming high prices on a range of different factors but in reality dental are can be delivered for much lower prices than those charged by many dentists in the country. It is no surprise that an increasing number of Irish dental patients are travelling to Northern Ireland or further afield to Eastern Europe for treatment.
From next month dentists will be obliged to display prices and it is hoped that this will encourage dentists to offer more competitive prices and enable patients to shop around for good deals.
President of the Irish Dental Association Dr Conor McAlister said that the variations in price represented a competitive market.
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