Dental practices will be obliged to display a list of fees for private dental treatments from June 1st under a new code practice for the profession.
Under the new rules, issued today by the Dental Council, dentists failing to adequately display fees may face disciplinary proceedings.
The council said the code was designed to promote transparency and enhance public confidence in the dental profession.
Members of the public who are concerned about the display of fees after June 1st deadline have been advised to contact the council.
President of the Dental Council, Dr Eamon Croke said patients will be able to check fees in advance for a range of treatments including examinations, X-rays, routine and surgical extractions, root canal treatment and crowns.
Welcoming the move, the National Consumer Agency said the code would enhance public confidence and allow consumers to make more informed choices about their dental treatment.
NCA chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said the a survey into doctors' and dentists' price display , conducted last year, highlighted serious gaps in the information available to consumers.
“At the time, the agency called for greater transparency in this important area of consumer expenditure and we have worked with the respective bodies to encourage the development of a code of practice around price display. Today's announcement marks the culmination of this initiative,” she said.
The Irish Dental Association, which represents some 2,000 dentists in the Republic, said its members would be happy to display their fees in “the agreed, uniform format”.
The IDA’s Fintan Hourihan said a recent survey by the Consumer Association showed real price competition existed across the country and this would become more apparent with fees on public display.
The Dental Council has also published two guidance documents. The first, entitled Choosing a Dentist at Home or Abroad, includes information for patients who may consider travelling abroad for treatment and highlights, what the council said were "certain matters that should be considered in advance".
The second document, entitled Scope of Practice, outlines the tasks that each member of the dental team is legally entitled to carry out and is intended for use by both the public and the profession.
