Summary
The study estimated the longitudinal direct costs of dental caries in six countries, finding that the most deprived populations had the highest costs. A 30% reduction in caries progression rates through preventive interventions could significantly reduce costs, with the most deprived groups benefiting the most.
Highlights
- The population-level healthcare costs of managing dental caries varied between $10.2 billion in Italy and $36.2 billion in Brazil.
- The most deprived group had the highest per-person costs in the UK, Italy, Brazil, and France.
- A 30% reduction in caries progression rates through preventive interventions could reduce costs by up to $17,728 per person in the UK.
- The most deprived populations had the highest baseline caries experience and the highest rate of progression.
- Preventive interventions, such as community water fluoridation and sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, can reduce dental caries experience.
- The study used a cohort simulation model to estimate the direct costs of dental caries over time for different socioeconomic groups.
- The results support the case for a more inclusive public health approach to caries management, focusing on prevention and early minimally interventive treatment.
Key Insights
- The study highlights the significant economic burden of dental caries, particularly among the most deprived populations, emphasizing the need for targeted preventive interventions to reduce health inequalities.
- The findings suggest that a 30% reduction in caries progression rates through preventive interventions could have a substantial impact on reducing costs, with the most deprived groups benefiting the most.
- The study's use of a cohort simulation model provides a robust estimate of the direct costs of dental caries over time, allowing for the evaluation of different scenarios and interventions.
- The results underscore the importance of considering the socioeconomic determinants of oral health when developing public health strategies to reduce dental caries.
- The study's focus on the most deprived populations highlights the need for policymakers to prioritize the development of targeted interventions to address the significant health inequalities in this group.
- The findings emphasize the importance of preventive interventions, such as community water fluoridation and sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, in reducing dental caries experience and associated costs.
- The study's results support the case for a shift in caries management from a restorative approach to a preventive and minimally interventive approach, focusing on early intervention and prevention.
Mindmap
Citation
Dunleavy, G., Verma, N., Raghupathy, R., Jain, S., Hofmeister, J., Cook, R., Vujicic, M., Kebschull, M., Chapple, I., West, N., & Pitts, N. (2024). Inequalities in oral health: estimating the longitudinal economic burden of dental caries by deprivation status in six countries. In BMC Public Health (Vol. 24, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20652-0