MoneynetmedicalinsurancesearchMany people already think they pay through the nose to get their teeth seen to. Many patients can’t, so they have to pay extra for private treatment. What’s more, prices vary hugely across the country, with some private practices charging up to six times as much as the NHS.The OFT’s investigation, announced last week following a complaint by the Consumers’ Association (CA), will look into the provision of NHS and private dental services, how they operate together and the incentives for dentists to treat patients under the NHS or privately. The main areas of concern about private dentistry include transparency of prices and the level of guidance patients are given before treatment is undertaken.Research from Mintel reveals that as few as 25 per cent of dentists in some parts of the country accept new NHS patients. The main reason is that in 1992 the Conservative government cut the fees of NHS dentists by 7 per cent, driving many into private practice.A national survey by the CA, published in its Which? magazine, found that the cost of a check-up, scale and polish is £13.20 on the NHS. Private patients in Yorkshire tend to pay between £24 and £35, while those in Edinburgh are likely to be charged from £35 to £50. One Edinburgh dentist was found to be charging £88.50 for this treatment.The survey also uncovered big differences in the cost of an amalgam filling: it could be £25 or £90, depending on which dentist you visit.

While you will pay more in some areas than in others because property prices or rental costs affect overheads, it is the extent of price discrepancies such as these that the OFT investigation should address.However, there can be advantages in going private. The British Dental Association says you will have a choice of treatments and access to better-quality materials. Private dentists often hold surgeries out of office hours, so you are also more likely to be able to get an appointment quickly.If you do go private, remember to shop around to find the dentist with the most competitive charges; it is worth considering insurance, too, as costs can escalate. While dental plans are regularly advertised, there are various types of scheme available, so check the details of the cover to make sure it is suitable for your needs.One option is the capitation scheme offered by companies such as Denplan, Densure and Cigna. Cover is bought not direct from the insurer but through your dentist, who will sign you up to whichever company’s plan the practice uses.

The main disadvantage with this type of plan is you are tied to that dentist.You get greater flexibility if you go for an insurance scheme, as you can then change dentist as often as you like. But get advice from a specialist broker: there’s such an array of products available that you can get one tailor-made to your requirements.For example, some people are happy to pay for check-ups but want cover in place should they need expensive treatment, while others want comprehensive cover. Some plans allow you to claim only a certain percentage of the cost and have upper limits on the amount they will pay out. Generally, the more you pay, the more comprehensive the cover will be, but it is important to read the small print so you know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.. Operations finally began at Britain’s much-delayed £623m air traffic control centre at Swanwick in Hampshire yesterday, in a changeover that was hailed as a “remarkable technical achievement”. Britain can now boast the most technically advanced air traffic control centre in the world.”He said the successful switch of operations from West Drayton, near Heathrow airport, was one of the “largest and most complex logistical transitions in air traffic history”.Mr Everitt added: “Swanwick gives us the technological advances and operational headroom we need to handle safely a further million flights a year by 2011, in addition to the two million we handle today.