An undercover investigation has revealed inconsistencies in the way different dentists offered to treat the same patients.

One NHS dentist in East Sussex spotted little wrong with a patient who had been told by another dentist she needed three fillings, a root filling and a crown.

The East Sussex dentist also finished his examination in five minutes and breached General Dental Council guidelines, a BBC investigation claims tonight.

The unnamed dentist did not ask any health questions before examining undercover reporter Ros Elueze nor obtain a medical history before seeing Lisa Fiddimore.

The General Dental Council (GDC) has admitted its regulatory system is "out-of-date" and needs reforming to eradicate such failings.

BBC South East Today sent the two reporters to ten randomly-chosen dental surgeries across Sussex and Kent after having X-rays and diagnosis done by Peterborough-based dentist Jerry Watson. He found Ms Fiddimore had a cracked filling in her upper left molar and wear on her lower canines, upper right canine and premolar.

He said she should have her lower first molar crowned and her upper left molar replaced. Ms Elueze had complained of throbbing pain on the right side of her mouth.

Dr Watson found her molars were badly inflamed and recommended removing her upper second premolar and her upper left first molar.

The reporters took their own X-rays to each appointment, telling each dentist they were taken about six months ago.

The NHS doctor in East Sussex pointed to a different tooth he said Ms Elueze needed filling and did not mention the abscess, any other treatment nor the other side of her mouth. The exam lasted just four to five minutes and he started work before she completed her health form.

His examination of Ms Fiddimore also lasted just five minutes. He told her she needed a filling replaced.

Three other dentists in East Sussex recommended Ms Fiddimore be treated by a hygienist and suggested a crown may be necessary, though one missed her cracked filling.

After seeing the findings, GDC chief executive Antony Townsend said: "I don't think I was too surprised. Our experience is most dentists do a very good job and in any profession you will get differences of opinion."

The GDC can consider serious complaints against dentists but wants extra powers to be able to monitor practices more generally.