FROM 1 JUNE, DENTISTS will have to display their private fees for clients, according to a new Code of Practice on fees issued by the Dental Council today.

The code lists a range of treatments for which a single fee must be shown.

For other treatments, a range of prices can be offered but in those cases the minimum and maximum cost involved must be displayed. All prices must be clearly and prominently displayed and patient consent must also be obtained before treatment begins.

The council has also issued guidelines for consumers on how to choose a dentist, either at home or abroad. It suggests a list of information a dentist should seek from a prospective patient and says people should be satisfied with hygiene standards at the dental surgery.

The guide also recommends checking aftercare arrangements and asking what can be done if the treatment is unsatisfactory or unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, a ‘scope of practice’ document published for dental workers outlines best practice and the treatments a dental nurse is permitted to carry out.

Minister for Health and Children James Reilly welcomed the publication of the new code. A statement from his department said that the code and the guide on choosing a dentists “will be of benefit to the public and the profession alike in promoting transparency and competition”.