By tf-lawyer.com September 20 marks the 36th National Love Your Teeth Day in China, a time when awareness around dental health is particularly emphasized. For many years, patients experiencing dental issues have been reluctant to seek treatment due to the high costs associated with dental care. However, recent changes allowing dental implants to be included in the centralized procurement process have led to a significant drop in prices for these services. Despite this positive shift, a report from China News indicates that some dental institutions are still employing questionable practices on social media platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu, using tactics like “low-price bait and high-price harvest” along with misleading offers like “immediate extraction and implantation” to attract consumers.
This month, the Beijing Municipal Market Supervision Administration revealed a series of enforcement actions against malpractice within the livelihood sector. Notably, Beijing Zhongnuo Dental Hospital received a fine of 350,000 yuan for falsely advertising its dental implantation services online and misleading customers about pricing structures. Remarkably, this hospital has been penalized administratively eight times this year, amounting to nearly 402,800 yuan in fines.
Patients have reported that many dental practices lure them in with attractive low-cost advertisements, only to significantly increase treatment costs during procedures through various additional services and bundled purchases. Often, patients find themselves unwittingly trapped in these schemes.
Take the case of Li Ting (pseudonym), who had a dental implant at Taiyuan Dingzhi Dental Clinic in August 2023. She was initially quoted 8,500 yuan for the procedure but told reporters that the clinic required her to pay half for the bone graft upfront and the remainder later. During the procedure, without her consent, the clinic proceeded with the dental implant. Afterward, she was asked to pay the remaining balance and was informed that her wisdom tooth was causing complications with the implant, necessitating an extra charge of 6,500 yuan for extraction.
Li expressed her frustration, saying, “What started as 8,500 yuan for one tooth ended up costing almost 20,000 yuan total. That’s a huge difference from the initial quote. The ‘doctor’ I consulted originally is now saying he’s just part of customer service and isn’t responsible anymore.”
On September 17, reporters reached out to Taiyuan Dingzhi Dental Clinic for clarification. A representative explained that the bone grafting had a separate charge of 4,500 yuan, and they admitted that they had not clearly communicated the implant costs.
Concerns extend beyond pricing as there are reports of some institutions using subpar materials, offering unnecessary treatments, and providing inconsistent information before and after procedures. This lack of transparency makes it challenging for patients to pursue recourse.
Another patient, Wang Mei (pseudonym), shared her experience with Beijing Weile Dental Hospital. After spending nearly 33,500 yuan for two dental implants, she discovered that one implant was improperly sized and positioned too low, causing severe chewing issues. Upon follow-up, her dentist claimed the low placement was intentional to enhance durability, yet Wang continued to suffer chewing difficulties due to the implant’s positioning.
Wang’s dental health has declined since her initial procedure, and she said, “It’s frustrating that what was marketed as the best option for my teeth now seems like just an ornament.” After seeking corrective measures, she approached Weile Dental Hospital, which had initially promised to partially cover the costs for replacement crowns within three years—but ultimately failed to keep that promise.
When asked about the contentious marketing claim of “immediate extraction and implantation,” Dr. Han Jing, Deputy Chief Physician of the Dental Department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, noted that not all patients qualify for such a procedure. Some may need bone restoration before implants are even viable. She cautioned that claims of immediate implantation with reliable post-operative results do not always adhere to physiological realities.
Lastly, attorney Xia Hailong pointed out the pitfalls of misleading low-price advertising in dental care, stressing that consumers must be properly informed about potential additional services and costs ahead of time for contracts to hold legal validity. He warned that misleading or false advertising could result in legal consequences for the clinics involved.
This evolving scenario in China’s dental care landscape underscores the challenges patients encounter and highlights the critical need for transparency and ethical practices within the industry.
