Indian Street Dentists
Meet Dildar Singh and Shankar. They set up their roadside stalls in rural Himalayan towns and villages and move from one street fair to another.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b1825e3d-c66d-4809-ba39-1fe99b689ab7/a38e8ff5-df14-4755-82d2-024156681fdd_rw_1920.jpg?h=9bbe34d9614c9c2d3c557d324c82bf01)
Dildar Singh and Shankar posing in front of their makeshift dental clinic in Rohru Mela, about 100km from Shimla.
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Portrait of Shankar, a multitalented street dentist.
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![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b1825e3d-c66d-4809-ba39-1fe99b689ab7/74686ae4-ee49-470e-a0e4-df9b837ec0db_rw_1920.jpg?h=9534b2020548fc199775ec9313d5627f)
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With no professional degree, they learnt the skill from their parents.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b1825e3d-c66d-4809-ba39-1fe99b689ab7/916e1e0f-9ffc-44d8-9d9b-b0d8827eeced_rw_1920.jpg?h=4a0392e275df295c8cdfe958d706c719)
They even perform root canal without anaesthesia in just one sitting of 20 minutes.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b1825e3d-c66d-4809-ba39-1fe99b689ab7/91956e3a-43bb-4f49-9a87-86d2636b1401_rw_1920.jpg?h=ef2a0974f0e20172d32e7971c33eb31d)
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People in the rural areas seeking quick and cheap treatment often seek their help.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b1825e3d-c66d-4809-ba39-1fe99b689ab7/69c257ff-cc57-402d-bfaf-bb1463563d8b_rw_1920.jpg?h=09114cf53546728807b08a5818e3d60c)
A new tooth costs about 4$ and they give a warranty of 1.5 years.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b1825e3d-c66d-4809-ba39-1fe99b689ab7/b6f0a599-c177-4e5d-9144-9617ed0daf01_rw_1920.jpg?h=bda9a844d802eea8324884c753608e35)
With many private clinics opening in rural areas and cheap healthcare in government hospitals, the number of street dentists is fading quite rapidly.