All dental practices throughout Ireland will soon have to display their private fees ‘in a place where patients can view them before consultation', the Dental Council has said.

It has issued a new code of practice making it mandatory for dentists to display their fees from June 1.

According to council president, Dr Eamon Croke, it has developed this code to ‘promote transparency and enhance public confidence in the profession'.

"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.

"A single fee must apply for some procedures while the fees for others may be shown as a range, with a minimum and maximum clearly stated. Where a range of fees applies, it is not permitted to set a minimum price only," he explained.

Dentists are being advised by the council that failure to display their fees from June 1 may lead to ‘fitness to practice' proceedings.

The new code of practice has been sent to all registered dentists in the country. It states that the fees notice ‘must be at least A4 size and be legible, accurate and up-to-date'.

"The fees must be prominently displayed in the practice and must be situated in a place where the patient could reasonably be expected to see it before the consultation," the council said.

It is recommending that the fees notice be displayed at any of the following locations:
-Entrance to the practice
-Reception area
-Waiting room.

Members of the public who are concerned about the display of fees after June 1 should contact the Dental Council here