BRASÍLIA, March 18, 2026 — Brazil’s competition authority has approved five additional settlement agreements with regional dental councils as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged restrictions on price competition in dental services.
The Administrative Council for Economic Defense said its tribunal endorsed the agreements with regional councils in Amazonas, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Maranhão and Amapá.
The settlements form part of an administrative inquiry launched in March 2025 into whether professional bodies interfered with the free pricing of dental services by discouraging or penalising discounts offered by dentists.
Under the agreements, the councils committed to cease the investigated conduct, cooperate with the authority and ensure that dentists are free to set prices and payment conditions.
They also agreed to make financial contributions to Brazil’s Fund for the Defense of Diffuse Rights, totalling hundreds of thousands of reais across the five entities.
The commitments include refraining from initiating disciplinary proceedings related to discounting practices and closing ongoing cases on the issue, except where legally required. The councils must also implement measures to prevent a recurrence of the conduct.
The latest agreements expand a broader set of settlements reached in the case, following 15 similar agreements approved in November 2025.
The investigation was triggered by allegations that the Federal Council of Dentistry had published guidance linking discounts to disciplinary violations, which was subsequently adopted by multiple regional councils.
The case highlights scrutiny of professional associations whose rules or guidance may restrict price competition in service markets.
