‘Postcode lottery’ in dental prices across the country

A new survey investigating the dental market in Ireland shows the cheapest and most costly counties and towns for dental treatments.

In what the Independent.ie is calling a ‘postcode lottery’ over dental costs, the survey shows the average price for dental treatments and consultations across the country.

Donegal was the cheapest in the country when it comes to having a tooth removed. Dublin came out costly (with an average price of €96 for having a tooth removed), but Donegal offers nearly half the price at €59.

The average cost of an extraction in Co Donegal is €85; in Co Carlow, the average was €83, with the same procedure costing an average of €65 in Co Cavan.

The cheapest average price for a dental consultation was in Co Louth at €33. Co Roscommon was found to be the most expensive (€60) and the average cost in the 26 counties came to €46.

‘The treatment costs fluctuate from town to town, we have seen differences of up to 52pc in similar treatments from clinics within 10km of each other,’ said Adrian Duffy, founder of dental research and marketing company Dental Booster, which undertook the research.

Loyalty wins out

Additionally, and despite the varied prices, 36% of patients were less likely to leave a particular dentist that they know.

The costs for crowns also varied. Kerry is more than twice as expensive, at €825, as Monaghan, at €350, according to the survey.

Teeth whitening in a clinic in Wexford (€475) is more than double that of Laois (€212).

CEO of the Irish Dental Association, Fintan Hourihan, believes that the survey shows a ‘healthy price competition among dentists’.