Maintaining good dental health is vital to general well -being, but for many Indians, searching for dental care remains economic weight.
A recent study conducted by Localcircles, a platform for dedication of citizens conducting research and polls on public policy and social issues, which have collected answers from over 46,000 citizens in 369 areas, reveals that high costs and lack of insurance coverage.
With 74% of respondents paying over 1,500 Rs for a single teeth filling and one in three who pay more than Rs 10,000 for a radical channel, the affordable accessible health care is evident.
“The importance of the mouth as part of our health is often overlooked and underestimated,” said Dr. Caswell Evans, a Dean collaborator about the prevention and sciences of public health, the Uic College of Dentistry.
Good oral hygiene not only prevents dental decomposition and gum disease, but also plays a role in reducing the risk of serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke.
However, in India, dental health is often neglected until severe pain or complications occur.
The lack of awareness, which works at high cost of treatment and the absence of insurance coverage, discourages many of the regular checks.
The situation is further enhanced by the inequality of dental spending in all areas and the limited availability of the government funded dental facilities.
Cost barrier: Why Indians avoid dental care
Private dental care in India is expensive and unlike other medical expenses, most health insurance policies do not cover dental treatments.
Patients looking for treatment in government hospitals often have long hours of waiting and inadequate facilities.
As a result, the choice of a treatment plan or a clinic depends to a large extent on financial access.
“Dental infrastructure and equipment are not only expensive for the market but also for maintenance, with repair fees sometimes reaching the roof,” a blog at dentalworldindia.com.
The use of advanced materials and technology further increases costs, making quality care inaccessible to many.
The price of dental care in India
Localcircles research highlights the unpredictable nature of dental costs.
While the price of a teeth fill ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 3,000, most people pay over Rs 1,500 per fill.
Similarly, the cost of treatment of the root canal can vary from Rs 500 to Rs 15,000 per tooth, with one in three respondents spending over Rs 10,000.
Lack of standard pricing means that patients often do not have clarity in what is a fair charge.
The dentist based in Germany Dr. Bibhakar Ranjan pointed out a deeper systematic issue in India’s oral healthcare system.
“Tooth decay is one of the most common dental health issues in India, almost everyone has cavities and appear at an early age, one important reason for this is the absence of school dental health programs, which are common in Western countries and even in Africa,” he said. Ranjan on India Today Digital.
He added that a national health education system for health and regular controls could help address this issue.
Dr. Ranjan also stressed the relationship between poor oral health and other serious medical conditions. “Gum disease has been associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and even pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and low birth weight.
Why dental care is accurate in India
Despite high costs, Dr. Ranjan claimed that dental treatment in India is still one of the cheapest in the world.
“The perception of dental care is expensive comes from the fact that it requires specialized equipment, trained professionals and procedural interventions and not just medication. Lack of health insurance for dental care adds to economic pressure,” he explained, he explained, he explained,
He suggested that the solution lies in expanding insurance coverage.
Dr. Darshini Shah, a dentist and oral implant at Shalby Hospitals, pointed out that the cost of dental therapy depends on the quality of materials and equipment, many of which are imported.
The biggest challenge in the crisis of India’s oral health is the lack of awareness. Many people are looking for dental care only when the problem has deteriorated.
“The public healthcare system does not focus much on dental care, leaving people with limited affordable choices,” Dr. Shah explained. “Rural areas, in particular, are facing a serious shortage of dental services.”
Doctors believe that investment in preventive dentistry and improving public awareness can greatly reduce the weight of oral diseases.
The survey shows that 73% of respondents want the government to cover the prices of dental treatments such as fills and root canals to make them affordable.
Dr. Ranjan also recommended the leverage of artificial intelligence in dentistry for early diagnosis and treatment.
However, awareness campaigns and systematic reforms are required to encourage preventive care in emergency treatments.