DENTAL patients face significant differences in costs for private treatment of as much as 900 per cent, a survey claims today.

Patients in Leeds could expect to pay between £23 and £50 for a check-up depending on which clinic they choose.

In-clinic teeth whitening could cost between £270 and £697 and implants from £1,500 to £2,350 across the city.

The survey of 500 clinics nationwide by search engine WhatClinic.com found the cost of a dental implant in Sheffield was £2,000, but this fell to £1,375 in Manchester.

Nationally prices for front tooth root canal treatment ranged from £57 in Newcastle to up to £600 in London – a difference of 953 per cent.

Thousands of NHS patients have been forced to seek private treatment in recent years after dentists pulled out of the health service over a controversial new contract.

More NHS places are now being made available following major changes although access remains patchy.

WhatClinic.com said patients appeared to be unaware of the potential savings available.

A survey of 500 users of the website found 84 per cent had been put off treatment because of the costs involved.

A quarter were prepared to travel for more than an hour to get cheaper care.

Philip Boyle, from the search engine, said price variations between clinics were the result of a number of factors but cost should not be the only factor patients took into consideration when choosing a clinic.