KUWAIT: Dental care costs in Kuwait have long been a burden, often necessitating individuals to seek treatment abroad or face financial strain. Because this has been a long-lasting and prevailing issue, Kuwait Times listened to complaints of both expats and locals about the high costs of dental care in Kuwait.

Abdullatif, an expat living in Kuwait, compared dental care costs between Kuwait and Jordan, pointing out that undergoing the same implant procedure using the implants of the very same German company in Jordan could result in saving approximately 45 percent of the costs compared to Kuwait.

He shared his personal experience with Kuwait Times, saying getting six tooth implants in Jordan cost him around KD 1,000, whereas in Kuwait it would have cost him a minimum of KD 2,000. Besides the implants, Abdullatif underwent several additional dental procedures that would have been much more expensive if done in Kuwait. According to him, many people, especially expats, choose to seek dental care back home or in other countries due to the more affordable prices.

Abdullah, an Indian expat, concurred. He recently underwent a root canal in India, with the complete cost amounting to KD 10 per tooth, which would have been tenfold or even higher if done in Kuwait at a private clinic. Expats can access root canal treatment at public clinics in Kuwait, but the procedure requires a minimum of three sittings and lengthy wait times, putting off many patients in need of urgent care.

Lama, a Kuwaiti, said even Kuwaitis face financial problems with dental care costs. Even though public hospitals are free of charge for citizens, sometimes these hospitals do not provide some services such as implants and braces, so patients have to resort to private clinics. “The free service in public hospitals covers the dentist’s labor costs, but the materials are not always included,” she pointed out. Lama also highlighted the long queues before seeing a dentist at public hospitals, which makes many people opt for private hospitals and clinics to save time, which then costs them an arm and a leg to pay the bills.

Dr Nour Esmail, a Kuwaiti orthodontist, told Kuwait Times that prices are not fixed but depend on multiple factors. “In many cases, prices are based on the name — whether the clinic’s name or the dentist’s, rather than the procedures needed for the patient’s treatment,” she pointed out.