It is a misconception that dental treatment, especially in India, is expensive. To be honest, there are many experienced doctors in India, their appointments are easily available and treatment is also very cheap compared to the rest of the world. This is why India is one of the favorite destination for dental tourism! Almost all the treatments are at least 10 times expensive in other part of the world! In India, for NRIs, the cost of round trip tickets plus treatment could price about half the cost from there!

But why should we compare our treatment charges with foreign countries? This is because even today high quality equipments, instruments and materials used for the treatment are imported as they are not made in India. Not only that, instead of getting help from the government, heavy import duties have been imposed on these equipments. We even do not have a research and product development approach compared to other well developed countries. It is also preferred by doctors because, the laws regarding quality maintenance at abroad are much more stringent than in India. Now I leave it on you to decide whether it is appropriate to compromise on the quality of the treatment or the research behind it. And why shouldn’t we compare the charges when Indians are being treated here by the same imported advanced equipments?

Along with this, our mentality also plays a major role. Usually it’s a matter of status to live in deluxe bungalows, drive luxurious cars, use expensive smartphones or drink coffee at Starbucks. We will spend a lot in showing off but we would hesitate to spend on our health issues. We will give 100 for a bottle of water of 20 rupees in Taj Hotel, but misjudging or calling a doctor a burglar is considered as our birthright! Give me a break! Such opportunistic people are in all fields. Just to save 500 INR, we prefer free checkups over genuine advices and ultimately end up spending more for correction of the wrong treatment. Oops! The loss of money is still fine but what about the damage done to one's body? And why do we need discount offers to cure our health issues? Is it so undervalued?

To be honest, our careless attitude towards health problem makes the treatment more complex and expensive. Our bargaining habits and compromising attitude is so well known in the world market. That’s why it is so easy for some foreign companies to dispose their rejected-low quality goods at competitive rates in India, Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Don't we deserve the best? Corruption, poor economic conditions, and our compromising approach to settle down with the low quality are the factors responsible for such malpractices. It’s a fact that not all foreign companies offer standard quality materials and we Indians must not behave like a "3rd world citizen".

Despite being a frontliner, unlike soldiers or government officials, our doctors do not receive the same kind of security, living benefits and pension for their retirement. Not only that, no one offers special concession in buying space for the clinic, in taxes, to pay electricity-water-gas or even municipal bills. In addition, it is hard to imagine how a doctor meets his family’s need while reimbursing for high cost of education, late start of career (30 years), expensive imported machines and loan repayments. Initial low income makes it difficult for them to cover professional risks, to run the hospital and save for future.

You have to think about it! Despite of all these, unlike other hospitals, dental clinics never charge separately for the OT, nursing costs or for the medicines & consumables used during the treatment. Then how come you find it expensive? Perhaps, malpractice in the profession could be due to the unrealistic expectations of the society, corporate culture, and the overall financial burden! After all, like all of you, they also work to meet their daily routine and to have better future. When nothing is concessional and If they have to live on their own, then how can the society or government expect them to do charity?

Doctors usually charge a fee based on time, skills, experience, technology and materials used. Debating over their treatment charges is never a matter of discussion. Perhaps it’s a matter of your understanding, affordability and the compromises you may wish to make on the quality.