What Affordable Dental Care Does NOT Mean

In a study conducted by Steinvij, Svartdal & Johnsen (2023), the cost of dental care was considered the most frequently given reason for the delay of dental care. When was the last time you visited your dentist? What constitutes affordable care from a dental clinic in the Philippines?  And what is it not supposed to mean for customers? 

MYTH 1:  Affordable dental care means cheap labor

No, expertise of an affordable dental clinic in Manila is not supposed to be considered cheap labor.  The perception of whether an item is expensive depends on its value and context. 

Evaluating the cost of dental care, a toothache medication may seem affordable, but it provides temporary relief with potential side effects. What if the patient is your 10-year-old son or daughter? A $51 (PHP2800) dental consultation can be considered cheap.  Why?  It’s because a dentist’s expertise addresses the root issue, ensuring long-term relief. 

Dental treatment costs encompass factors like business overheads, experience, quality of care, and the scope of work, which can vary based on location and services provided.

MYTH 2: Dental care is purely aesthetic

One thing that perhaps people fail to recognize is that dental care is best used as a preventive tool.  Case in point: dental health impacts our overall health. 

Image source: Dental World Manila

Oral health is closely linked to chronic diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes, with factors such as genetics, diet, smoking, and oral hygiene contributing to periodontal disease risk. Early childhood tooth decay, a common childhood disease, is often accompanied by other serious conditions and can lead to impaired development, low educational performance, and family stress. 

Dental issues also result in lost school days, with 30% of U.S. kids missing over 9 million school days due to oral health problems. Poor oral health can affect adults' job prospects and social lives, leading to anxiety, embarrassment, and potential discrimination in employment. 

Treatment costs for oral health conditions can be substantial, with gum disease treatments ranging from $500 to $10,000, crowns costing $600 to $1000, and implants exceeding $2,000. Dental implants cost in the Philippines is definitely more affordable compared to when getting it in more developed countries.  Whatever the value of getting dental services is, it is something to be considered worth it because as we all know, poor dental health leads to painful, disabling, and costly health conditions.

Won’t these things justify the importance of dental care in improving the quality of life?

Image source: Dental World Manila

MYTH 3: Dental care offers major challenges

Aside from dental expertise, an affordable dental clinic in Manila should be a customer service champion. From systematic online appointment to provision of comfortable waiting areas to constant monitoring of patients, your chosen dental clinic should be good at all those. Because getting dental services should not be a hassle.