Health and healthcare require particular attention from economists in order to consider the use of resources devoted to producing healthcare and improving oral health. Health economics is the application of the principles of economics to healthcare sector. The extensive rural population and school children are denied of even the basic dental services though there is continuous advancement in the field of dentistry. The various studies have revealed an increasing trend in oral diseases in the recent times especially among this underserved population. The wide spread nature of dental disease in rural India means that the detrimental effects of dental diseases within individual will also have negative impact on the functioning population. This translate in to loss of man hours which significant negative impact on economic productivity. An individual may have dental needs as determined by health care professionals but fail to seek services because he/she either does not perceive reason for the same or lacks sufficient resources as time, money or transportation to receive treatment. Dentistry faces serious problems regarding accessibility of its services to all. Understanding the barriers that prevent people from seeking appropriate and timely dental care is important when designing out-reach activities. It would be useful to understand the factors which influence the underutilization of available dental health care services. This would help in designing suitable interventions to reduce dental neglect around the world. The present review article covers similar issues and provides some background of Indian dental care services that may help in augmenting the utilization of dental care services.
