Baku, October 1, 2025
Dental treatment in Azerbaijan is increasingly seen as a luxury, as rising costs place even basic procedures out of reach for many citizens.
Residents say that fillings, extractions, and check-ups now strain family budgets.
“A filling costs 50 to 70 manats. I can’t afford to visit the dentist, though I need treatment. Even a simple extraction costs 40–50 manats,” one respondent told during street survey.
Another noted that routine medical visits have also become unaffordable, with consultations priced at 80–100 manats.
Families with children are hit hardest. Parents say a child’s filling costs 30 manats, but the same procedure for adults is often double.
Experts point to a 30% rise in dental service costs over the past year. Dentist Nigar Aghayeva told KhazarTV, that imported materials account for the surge, with fillings priced from 60 to 150 manats depending on quality, crowns from 150 to 500, and implants ranging from 500 to 1,500. Rising prices for sterilization and disinfection equipment have also added pressure.
Her colleague, Shamil Rzayev, said the sector’s dependence on imports means any foreign price hike is immediately felt locally.
“Almost everything, from equipment to implants, is imported. That’s why prices keep climbing,” he said.
He added that market prices for implants now reach 1,700 manats, while aesthetic procedures range between 250 and 700.
Beyond fillings and implants, clinics report higher costs for sterilization equipment and disinfectant supplies, which have become unavoidable overheads in a post-pandemic world. These costs, passed on to patients, are widening the gap between demand and access.
For many Azerbaijanis, the result is deferred care, untreated cavities, and a growing sense that dentistry has shifted from basic healthcare to a marker of income inequality.
“We’re told to smile more,” one resident remarked, “but only the wealthy can still afford to fix their teeth.”
