While the year-on-year price growth in dental practices in the Czech Republic was 20% in 2022, in the same comparison in 2023 the price growth in dentistry slowed to almost half. The average price increase in dental practices in 2023 surpassed 11%.
The course of price increases in dental practices followed the general trend of inflation in the economy and slowed in 2023. While the average year-over-year price increase in dental offices was nearly 20% in 2022, the year-over-year price increase in dental offices surpassed only 11% in 2023.
Of the procedures, endodontics became the most expensive, implant placement the least
Traditionally, endodontics prices rose the most for medical procedures. The price increase was 20%, four percentage points lower than a year ago, when prices rose by 24%. Implant placement was the least expensive in dentists’ offices, up 7%. This increase was similar to the 2022 result, when the price increase for this procedure was 8%. It can be surmised that the more modest increase in the price of this procedure is due to the expanding number of dentists offering this service and the subsequent competition among them, which is holding back a more significant price increase.
The price increase for dental restorations ranged between 7% and 13%
The least expensive of the dental restorations was the all-ceramic crown, which increased by 7%. On the other hand, the price of ceramic veneers and cast metal clasp removable partial dentures increased the most. The year-on-year price increase for metal-ceramic crowns was on average 7 %, and their price continued to follow the strong trend of price alignment with all-ceramic crowns. Dental practices are moving away from years of pricing policies where, due to inferior aesthetic results of treatment, the price of metal-ceramic crowns has historically been lower than all-ceramic crowns. This is despite the fact that the price at which dentists have recently been purchasing metal ceramic crowns from dental laboratories is significantly higher than monolithic milled all-ceramic crowns due to the greater proportion of hand work by dental technicians.
Price increases for dental hygienists have also slowed
Whereas in 2022, the average annual price increase in dental hygienists’ offices was 15% for a first visit and 10% for a repeat visit. There was a lower average price increase in 2023 compared to 2022 of 9%. There was a more pronounced trend for some practices to increase the price of a repeat visit than a first visit. The increase in the price of in-office whitening has almost stopped and was 3% year-on-year in 2023.
The table below lists selected dental procedures and restorations and their year-on-year price change.
| Dental procedure/replacement | Annual change 2022/2023 |
|---|---|
| Composite filling | 12 % |
| Endodontics | 20 % |
| All-ceramic crown | 7 % |
| Metal ceramic crown | 9 % |
| Ceramic veneer | 13 % |
| Cast metal clasp removable partial dentures | 13 % |
| Implant placement | 7 % |
| Dental hygiene | 9 % |
| In-office teeth whitening | 3 % |
Source: Own investigation
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