Effect of fluoridation on the cost of dental treatment among urban Scottish schoolchildren

Abstract

Dental treatment needs of 230 children aged 4 and 5 years and 288 aged 9 and 10 years who were lifetime residents of two towns, one fluoridated and the other non-fluoridated, were costed on the Resource Related Index. This index is based on the British National Health Service scale of fees for general dental practitioners. The overall cost of dental treatment required by 4- and 5-year-olds in the fluoridated community was 45% less than in the non-fluoridated community, The corresponding difference for 9- and 10-year-olds was 47%. The differences in the cost of treatment for dental caries only (fillings, extractions and general anaesthetics) were 56% in 4- and 5-year-olds and 76% in 9- and 10-year-olds in favour of the fluoridated community. In the latter community, no child examined required dental extractions under general anaesthesia. Certain assumptions made in the study and the implications of the findings in terms of cost savings brought about by fluoridation are discussed.

Theoretical Considerations in Applying Benefit‐Cost and Cost‐Effectiveness Analyses to Preventive Dental Programs*

“…Since the market price does not factor in these items, one can assume that for those who receive treatment, the benefits are actually greater than the market price. Second, no credit is given to the programs for reduction of extractions, malocclusions or multisurface restorations, which has been documented and all of which are more expensive to treat than single surface restorations (34, 35,36).…”

Research on dental plaque removal methods for efficient oral prophylaxis: With a focus on air polishing and rubber cup polishing

“…Lastly, total scaling time was significantly shorter in the AS group, whose subjects underwent dental plaque removal prior to scaling, when compared to the SA and SR groups, whose subjects underwent scaling prior to polishing ( p < 0.05). Minimizing the time of dental procedures not only alleviates the patients’ burden but also reduces the economic burden of dental clinics and social expenses 22 . With longer procedure times, dental hygienists are at a higher risk of developing work‐related musculoskeletal disorders 23 …”

“…Minimizing the time of dental procedures not only alleviates the patients' burden but also reduces the economic burden of dental clinics and social expenses. 22 With longer procedure times, dental hygienists are at a higher risk of developing workrelated musculoskeletal disorders. 23 The time required for plaque control was shortest in the SR group (6.4 ± 2.1 minutes) (Table 3).…”