The British Dental Association has stressed it will work to ensure the Competition and Markets Authority understand the complex realities of delivering private dentistry.
While launching off the back of requests from the UK Chancellor, the investigation will operate on a four-nation basis.
Official data indicates over 6m adults in England simply prefer private dentistry to NHS care. Thousands of dentists meet this patient need, providing treatment options in mixed NHS-private practices, as well as offering cosmetic dental procedures that are not available on the NHS.
BDA analysis of the dental market indicates that the majority of spending within NHS practices is on private work.
Typical NHS contract holders in England are now delivering items of NHS care at a loss and are reliant on a cross subsidy of over £400 million a year from private activity to break even.
The UK Government has yet to show any sign it is willing to plug the funding gap. Across all four UK nations this funding gap is inevitably putting some pressure on private pricing.
The BDA has criticised the UK Government for falsely claiming it will put money back into voters’ pockets through this investigation.
It maintains that while high quality and cost-effective private care remains a preferred option for millions, and Government has a responsibility to properly fund NHS care to prevent people being forced into private treatment.
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “The UK Government is attempting to use this inquiry to pretend it is improving access and putting money back into voters’ pockets without spending a penny.
“We intend to spell out the facts. We will help to show the CMA how private dentistry works.
“These are services delivering high-quality, cost-effective care that millions of families really value.
“Those left without options, who have felt forced to go private, are there entirely because of choices made by Government’s across the UK.”