u/chlorpromazine_-_

Why are dental associates paid less than a living wage in India? Even in metro cities it’s fairly less for the qualification that most dentists have, I’ve observed that many associates make within the 15-20k range in the first 5 years of their career.

How is this normalised?

The justification I’ve heard from dentists is that dental associates that pass out of colleges are usually incompetent and unskilled and that employing them is a risk for the practice owner.

If so, why can’t the dental curriculum focus its efforts on improving the competence of these dentists?

That involves at least just the treatment planning, diagnosis and referral skills.

Associate dentists in other countries make a lot more in proportion to the income of the practice.

And they aren’t usually specifically skilled or experienced at the time of their graduation.

(edit: what I can conclude from the replies is that being a dentist in India for the most part is like watching a house burn down.)