The launch of a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) market study into private dentistry represents an important inflection point for the sector, says Patrick Teague.
The decision to launch the CMA inquiry reflects both rising public concern around affordability and a broader shift towards more active competition scrutiny in healthcare markets.
The CMA’s interest in private dentistry has not emerged in isolation. It is part of a wider and increasingly assertive effort to reshape how consumer-facing healthcare markets operate in the UK.
If there were any doubt about the direction of travel, the CMA’s final report into the veterinary sector (published on 24 March 2026) provides some clear clues. For dentistry, the parallels are difficult to ignore.
A familiar set of concerns
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