The issue is regarding the recent unfortunate events of two engineers’ deaths arising due to complications following hair transplant procedures performed by a dentist.
This happens when we, as dentists, go beyond the scope of our formal training and the services we are legally allowed to provide. When it is clearly mandated by the Dental Council of India (DCI) that only OMFS (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) specialists are allowed to perform hair transplants — and that too with the support of qualified medical and allied professionals — general dentists performing hair transplants and other facial cosmetic procedures for quick financial gains is both unwarranted and dangerous.
Understanding the Root Causes
We also have to analyze why general dentists resort to such risky practices.
- There is a lack of adequate job opportunities in the government sector when compared to medical professionals.
- Colleges offer meager salaries to dental faculty, even for MDS graduates, especially when compared to their medical counterparts.
- Private practices and corporate clinics often underpay dentists, and exploitation of interns and freshers in the name of “exposure” and “experience” is rampant.
Additionally, the absence of dental treatment coverage under insurance — based on the absurd justification that dental care is ‘cosmetic’ — discourages people from seeking essential treatments. This is despite the fact that dental care alleviates pain, treats infection, and restores essential function and quality of life.
Time for Change
It is high time that the DCI, IDA, and other professional dental associations step in and work collectively to elevate the status and livelihood of dental professionals. Key actions should include:
- Advocating for pay on par with medical professionals.
- Fast-tracking the inclusion of dental treatments in insurance coverage.
- Creating more dental healthcare job opportunities in the government sector.
Without such reforms, the trend of dentists venturing into the territory of other specialties will continue, along with the steady migration of well-qualified dentists to foreign countries where they are better valued and compensated.