🦷 Smiles Without Support: Why Dental Care Is Still Excluded from Health Insurance in India - While the World Treats It as Essential

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Smile Without Support
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Introduction

A toothache doesn’t feel “optional.”
Neither does a root canal, a gum infection, or a broken tooth after an accident.

Yet in India, dental treatment is still largely viewed as a luxury rather than a medical necessity.

While modern medicine increasingly recognizes oral health as inseparable from systemic health, Indian insurance frameworks continue to treat dentistry as an add-on - if it’s covered at all. This gap leaves millions paying out of pocket for conditions that directly affect nutrition, speech, confidence, employability, and overall well-being.

So why is dental care excluded in India - when much of the world considers it basic healthcare?

:brain: Oral Health = General Health
Poor oral care isn’t just about teeth - it’s linked to diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy complications, and respiratory infections. Yet, in India, most insurance covers only accidents, leaving routine and preventive care out.

Meanwhile, countries like Thailand, the Philippines, the UK, the US, and Canada recognize dental care as essential, integrating it into public or private health systems.

:money_with_wings: Why India Falls Behind

  • Dentistry seen as elective
  • Preventive care undervalued
  • Public budgets focus on life-threatening diseases
  • Limited awareness of oral-systemic links
  • Dentistry mostly private

The result? Patients delay care, infections worsen, teeth are lost, and costs skyrocket.

:chart_decreasing: The True Cost of Exclusion

  • Fewer preventive visits
  • More chronic infections
  • Lower productivity
  • Poor nutrition and mental health
  • Rising long-term healthcare costs

Dental care isn’t optional - it’s healthcare.

Conclusion

India has advanced in healthcare access and insurance, but dental care is still seen as optional.

A smile shouldn’t depend on income.
Pain relief shouldn’t need personal savings.
Prevention shouldn’t be a privilege.

It’s time oral health became a core part of India’s healthcare system.

:speech_balloon: Engaging Question for MedBound Hub

If gum disease can worsen diabetes and tooth infections can affect the heart, why are we still treating dental care as optional in India? Shouldn’t oral health finally become part of mainstream insurance coverage?

MBH/PS

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Great topic and this is such an important question to ask. Indians don’t see dental problems as essential although dental problems can lead to health disorders. I feel like lack of standardization is one of the main reasons why insurance companies are unable to include too.

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Oral health is often treated separately, but it directly affects overall health. Delaying dental care only increases complications and costs later. It really should be part of basic health coverage, not an optional extra.

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Very important topic. Oral health should be part of insurance coverage-cosmetic treatments can be excluded, but essential dental care shouldn’t be optional

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yes it should be included in mainstream insurance as dental operation for transplants also has high amount of payment and is not affordable for many people