Private Tooth Extraction Costs Rise 32% in Two Years

The cost of private tooth extractions in the UK has increased significantly in recent years. New research reveals that since 2022, the price of a non-surgical tooth extraction has risen by 32%. This increase is part of a broader trend in the private dentistry sector, with charges for six common dental treatments showing notable price hikes.

Significant Price Increases Across Various Treatments

Research conducted by health insurer Mytribe has revealed that the cost of private dental treatments has risen between 14% and 32% since 2022. The findings show that the average cost increases for common procedures are as follows:

• Anterior root canal: £350 in 2022, rising to £400 in 2024, a 14% increase
• Routine checkup: £48 in 2022, rising to £55 in 2024, a 15% increase
• Scale and polish: £65 in 2022, rising to £75 in 2024, a 15% increase
• Composite filling: £105 in 2022, rising to £129 in 2024, a 23% increase
• Initial consultation: £65 in 2022, rising to £80 in 2024, a 23% increase
• Non-surgical extraction: £105 in 2022, rising to £139 in 2024, a 32% increase

The findings highlight the rising financial burden on patients seeking private dental care, especially for procedures like tooth extractions, which have seen the largest price increase.

Regional Variation in Treatment Costs

Dental charges also show considerable variation across the UK, with prices differing from region to region. For instance, a root canal treatment in Northern Ireland costs an average of £366, whereas in the East Midlands, the same treatment can cost as much as £775. Other areas with higher charges for root canal treatment include Cambridge (£660), Watford (£609), and Bournemouth (£550).

Similarly, tooth extractions are charged differently across regions. In the South East and South West of England, the average price for an extraction is £350, but it rises to £435 in the East.

The disparity in costs is also apparent in composite fillings, with Watford being the most expensive area at £198. In contrast, the same procedure in nearby Luton costs only £70. Dundee stands out as a lower-cost area, with a checkup priced at £33 and an extraction at £75, while Milton Keynes charges £70 for a checkup and £242 for an extraction.

Factors Contributing to Rising Prices

The increase in dental treatment costs is largely attributed to “huge inflationary pressures,” according to Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association (BDA). Speaking to The Guardian, Crouch explained that rising energy and laboratory bills, alongside the economic effects of the autumn budget, are contributing to the increase in private dental charges. He noted that while NHS treatment costs are fixed, private practices have the flexibility to adjust their prices in response to rising operational costs.

Crouch added that “private dentistry has effectively cross-subsidised loss-making NHS care” due to the financial constraints faced by the public healthcare system.

Neil Carmichael, president of the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), echoed these concerns, attributing the rising costs to the imbalance between demand and supply. “This is the classic outcome from having huge demand with limited supply,” he explained. “The ADG has been flagging for some time that overall dentistry requires a further 3,000 or more dentists across the NHS and private sectors.”

Carmichael further emphasized that this shortage of dental professionals reduces access to care, and with increasing demand and rising overhead costs, it is “inevitable that there is an upward pressure on prices.”

The research, which analyzed 450 dental practices across the UK, sheds light on the financial challenges patients face when seeking private dental care in an increasingly expensive healthcare environment.