Factors affecting fee setting for private treatment in general dental practice

Area of Science:

• Dental Practice Management
• Economic Factors in Healthcare

Background:

• Understanding dental practice pricing is crucial for economic sustainability.
• Fee structures in general dentistry can be complex, influenced by various factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pricing policies in general dental practice, specifically fee-for-item versus hourly rates.
• To determine the impact of specialist status and private care levels on these pricing methods.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire survey was distributed to members of the British Society for General Dental Surgery.
• The survey targeted general dental practitioners working in dental practices.

Main Results:

• Fee-for-item pricing was common for new patient examinations, while hourly rates were preferred for restorations.
• Practices with 80-100% private treatment were more likely to use hourly rates.
• Specialist status did not influence the charging method.

Conclusions:

• Clinical time, practice overheads, and laboratory costs are key determinants of dental fees.
• The proportion of private treatment significantly impacts whether dentists use fee-for-item or hourly charging models.