How to engage with the CMA’s private dental services market study
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is undertaking a market study into the private dental services sector.
We are looking at:
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how the market works
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how well it performs for consumers
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how it can possibly work better
We are focusing on the supply of private dental services – including preventative, clinically necessary and cosmetic treatments – in the UK.
Work in the private dentistry market aligns strongly with our strategic objectives. Across all of our work, we focus on delivering tangible benefits for the UK’s economy, its citizens and businesses. In particular, as set out in our Strategy 2026 to 2029, the CMA helps improve household prosperity by promoting competition and protecting consumers.
We take particular care to prevent harm to consumers in areas of essential spend and at moments of vulnerability.
Market study timeline
Below we set out our roadmap for the market study, and how you can engage with us.
The dates are included as a guide and may be updated.
The CMA will conduct the market study in line with its 4Ps framework: Pace, Predictability, Proportionality, Process.
We will update this page throughout the market study, and you can subscribe to get emails when we update it. The button to opt in for email notifications can be found at the bottom of the page under contact.
Launch: March 2026
On 5 March 2026 we launched a market study, which we expect to last for 12 months.
We published a statement of scope, which:
- explains why we are launching a market study
- sets out the proposed scope of the market study
- sets out at a high-level categories of potential outcomes from the market study (‘remedies’)
We are inviting views on the proposed scope of the market study, and have set out a number of questions to help inform responses. The deadline for responses is 2 April 2026.
We have also published a market study notice, which sets out the legal scope of the study.
Webinar: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
We are holding a webinar for stakeholders on how the market study will run. Join Jennifer Halliday (SRO), Daniel Rawling and Nicola Brown (Project Directors) to find out what it means for industry and how to engage with us. You can book your place on the webinar page.
Engagement, evidence gathering and analysis: March to early September 2026
The CMA will be engaging with and gathering evidence from a range of stakeholders throughout the market study to ensure we can benefit from a wide range of perspectives.
We expect to engage with, amongst others:
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dentistry professionals and dentistry businesses – ranging from large corporate groups, to independent dentistry practices
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industry and professional representatives
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consumers and consumer groups
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UK and devolved governments
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regulatory bodies across the 4 UK nations
We expect to engage and gather evidence in a number of ways, including through:
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responses to our statement of scope
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commissioning third-party research
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collecting information using our statutory information gathering powers and through informal channels (such as questionnaires) sent to key market participants
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hosting industry roundtables and meetings with dentistry providers, industry associations, regulators and other stakeholders
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analysing available market data
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working closely with UK and devolved governments, including to understand applicable legal and policy frameworks, and with the Chief Dental Officers in each nation
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working closely with regulatory bodies across the 4 nations
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call for views from consumers and dental professionals. We want to hear from consumers and dental practitioners on how they experience this market and how well it is working.
Sector experts
We will draw in sector expertise to consider the CMA’s emerging thinking as we progress through the market study. This will help to ensure outcomes, including any recommendations the CMA may make to the UK and devolved governments or industry, are informed by expert knowledge and insight.
Internal state of play
The CMA will hold an internal state of play (ISOP) meeting(s) to reassess the scope of the market study at key points, against the evidence gathered.
Consultation on emerging thinking and remedies: October to November 2026
The CMA will update publicly on our work in which we expect to:
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set out our work to date on the market study
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outline any concerns about the market, and areas for potential improvement
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propose possible options for improving outcomes
We will invite views from interested stakeholders on our emerging thinking and any possible options for improving outcomes.
Final report
We will publish our final report setting out our conclusions from the market study, and any remedies, by the statutory deadline of 4 March 2027.