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Cost‐effectiveness of preventing dental caries and full mouth dental reconstructions among A laska Native children in the Y ukon– K uskokwim delta region of A laska
Author(s) -
Atkins Charisma Y.,
Thomas Timothy K.,
Lenaker Dane,
Day Gretchen M.,
Hennessy Thomas W.,
Meltzer Martin I.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/jphd.12141
Subject(s) - medicine , dentistry , psychological intervention , toothpaste , tooth brushing , cost effectiveness , fluoride varnish , oral health , dental plaque , toothbrush , nursing , risk analysis (engineering) , chemistry , brush , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , varnish , engineering , coating
Objective We conducted a cost‐effectiveness analysis of five specific dental interventions to help guide resource allocation. Methods We developed a spreadsheet‐based tool, from the healthcare payer perspective, to evaluate the cost effectiveness of specific dental interventions that are currently used among Alaska Native children (6‐60 months). Interventions included: water fluoridation, dental sealants, fluoride varnish, tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and conducting initial dental exams on children <18 months of age. We calculated the cost‐effectiveness ratio of implementing the proposed interventions to reduce the number of carious teeth and full mouth dental reconstructions (FMDRs) over 10 years. Results A total of 322 children received caries treatments completed by a dental provider in the dental chair, while 161 children received FMDRs completed by a dental surgeon in an operating room. The average cost of treating dental caries in the dental chair was $1,467 (∼258,000 per year); while the cost of treating FMDRs was $9,349 (∼1.5 million per year). All interventions were shown to prevent caries and FMDRs; however tooth brushing prevented the greatest number of caries at minimum and maximum effectiveness with 1,433 and 1,910, respectively. Tooth brushing also prevented the greatest number of FMDRs (159 and 211) at minimum and maximum effectiveness. Conclusions All of the dental interventions evaluated were shown to produce cost savings. However, the level of that cost saving is dependent on the intervention chosen.