On 2008-06-28 10:23:01 +0100, Rod said:

Prices for a range of common treatments have a horrible habit of
becoming the prices on which comparisons are made. This puts downward
pressure onto those prices - but allows the other prices to drift
upward, sometimes (often?) unnoticed - and possible unknowably.

Not bought on price alone, I would agree.

But not taking it into account? That truly is giving carte blanche for
the dentist to charge what they like.

People do compare because in the private dental sector, there is
generally a fair amount of choice available. So recommendations, word
of mouth etc. become factors as well.

If somebody is good, they will get recommendations, if they massively
over-price, that soon gets around as well.