Suffolk campaigner warns Government must prioritise NHS dentistry over probing private costs
The Chancellor asked regulators to investigate concerns about hidden fees and a lack of transparency in the sector.
Last updated 19th Nov 2025
Private dentists could face a competition inquiry after the Chancellor asked regulators to investigate concerns about hidden fees and a lack of transparency in the sector.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed it is “exploring the merits” of a study into private dental care following a request from Rachel Reeves, who said the review was needed to help ease cost-of-living pressures on families.
In her letter to the watchdog, Ms Reeves raised concerns about “hidden costs, lack of transparency and overtreatment”, and highlighted reports of some practices allegedly offering NHS places for children only if parents signed up to private treatment.
She said: “The scourge of hidden costs, lack of transparency and overtreatment has blighted families in need of dental treatment for too long. That's why I want to see urgent action taken to help reduce prices, whilst the cost of living still puts pressure on families across the country.”
A CMA spokesperson said: “We welcome the request from the Chancellor to carry out a study into the private dental care market. This is an important market that needs to work well for consumers. We have been exploring the merits of work in this area and will be developing a specific proposal to put to our board.”
"Oral health provisions are inaccessible... and out of reach for ordinary patients"
But campaign group Toothless in England, which was founded in Suffolk, says the government’s focus must remain firmly on restoring NHS dentistry, not on the private sector.
Speaking to this us, campaign founder Mark Jones said any research into the sector is welcome, but the fundamental problem remains access.
“I think any research into any subject is, of course, welcome, particularly welcome when it comes to oral health provision,” he said. “But I think what people will have front and centre of their minds, whichever way you're looking at oral healthcare provision, is it's inaccessible.
“Whether it be inaccessible through the lack of NHS dental practices that are in our region, or if you can find a dentist, then it's usually invariably through a private practice, and private practices financially are out of reach for the ordinary dental patient.”
He said the crisis is being felt “very acutely by the fact that either you can't afford to go private or, more importantly, you can't get access to an NHS dentist”.
Focus needs to return to the NHS
Mr Jones stressed that the central issue remains the long-running shortage of NHS provision.
“Fundamentally, all the dentists are looking for is fair pay for a fair day's work in providing NHS treatments to the public, our communities, our families, mums and dads, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents, etcetera,” he said.
“So that's where the focus should be: getting that provision through proper funding of the contract, and proper funding in order to get dentists to pick up new contracts… and entice them into providing NHS provision once again in their communities.”
He described the proposed private-sector study as “another distraction”.
"The country is crying out for a solution to the dental crisis"
Mr Jones said patients are continuing to face long-term harm after years without routine check-ups.
“The country is crying out for a solution to the dental crisis,” he said. “Presently, the government has spoken a lot about how they're going to fix it, but on the ground, we're not seeing any real change.
“People are still going without… for the years and years of neglect, the years and years that they've been without regular check-ups, because there has been no NHS provision where they live.
“Their oral health is declining to a rate across the country that we've not really seen ever since the NHS was brought about in post-war Britain.”
He urged ministers to take decisive action: “We implore the government, we implore the Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury, to do something radical, to do something that's in the interests of the nation, not the pockets of the Treasury.”
What the government are doing?
In July 2025, the government announced reforms to the NHS dental contract to prioritise patients with complex or urgent needs, such as those with severe tooth decay or gum disease.
The new plans would also require newly qualified dentists to commit to a minimum number of years working on NHS contracts intended to boost access long-term.
Preventive measures are also being expanded: for example, supervised tooth-brushing for children, and better use of fluoride varnish
In September 2025, NHS England introduced a new Urgent Dental Care Incentive (UDCI) scheme to boost capacity for urgent care.
The government is also consulting on major contract reforms for NHS dentistry. Proposals include prioritising patients with complex or urgent needs and requiring newly qualified dentists to work in the NHS for a minimum period
These reforms are part of a wider “Plan for Change” that aims to rebuild NHS dental services, focusing on prevention, fair pay, and recruiting dentists to underserved areas.
The government has committed to delivering 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments annually.