Health economics
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This paper examines the factors beyond NHS dentists' remuneration which may explain the variations in the public/private mix in general dental practitioners' workload in the UK. Given that NHS dentistry is subject to a fixed price system, the study focused mainly on non-income supply-side factors. ⋯ While, on the one hand, the lack of sufficient demand for private dentistry emerged as a strong reason for remaining in the NHS, on the other, there was evidence that equity in access to dental treatment is still seen as an important principle. The implications of these findings in the context of recent discussion of the future of NHS dentistry are considered.