Reviews of evidence on interventions to prevent dental caries, oral and pharyngeal cancers, and sports-related craniofacial injuries1 1The names and affiliations of the Task Force members are listed at the beginning of this supplement, and at www.thecommunityguide.org.

Abstract

This report presents the results of systematic reviews of effectiveness, applicability, other positive and negative effects, economic evaluations, and barriers to use of selected population-based interventions intended to prevent or control dental caries, oral and pharyngeal cancers, and sports-related craniofacial injuries. The related systematic reviews are linked by a common conceptual approach. These reviews form the basis of recommendations by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services (the Task Force) about the use of these selected interventions. The Task Force recommendations are presented in this supplement.

Evaluation of School-Based Dental Sealant Programs: An Updated Community Guide Systematic Economic Review

“…The median attack rate (8%) for the six studies used to estimate economic benefit per tooth was lower than the cost-saving threshold attack rate of 12% (i.e., annual caries increment of 0.47 surfaces for four molars 13 ) found in the 2002 economic review. Possible reasons for a higher cost-saving threshold attack rate in the 2002 review are that among the three studies that found positive net costs, one reported sealant times per child exceeding 1 hour and used an early sealant material excluded in the recent effectiveness review 56 and the two remaining studies did not include productivity losses in estimating the economic benefit.…”

“…The economic review included six studies conducted from the early 1970s to 1999. 13 Many factors that can influence the cost and benefit of SSPs have changed since this earlier economic review. These include:

decrease in caries prevalence 14 ;

increase in number of states allowing dental hygienists working in SSPs to assess a child’s need for sealants and to place sealants without a dentist being present 15 ; and

increased prevalence of sealants among children 14,16 and SSPs that target high-risk schools.

…”

“…The Dental Consumer Price Index was used because the 2002 economic review found that dental labor accounted for the majority of SSP costs. 13 International currencies were converted to U.S. dollars using purchasing power parity rates from the World Bank. 23 Purchasing power parity rates were used because “they are less susceptible to financial flows and governmental exchange rate manipulation than are market exchange rates.” 18 …”

Oral Cancer Screening in Elderly in Sao Paulo State, Brazil (2001 to 2009)

“…A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness and applicability of screening failed to find sufficient evidence "to determine public health relevance in controlling morbidity, mortality, or quality of life" [19]. However, a recent study suggests that visual inspection of the mouth could reduce mortality from oral cancer [20].…”

Saving One Smile at a Time: Oral Health Promotion in Pediatric Primary Care Practice

“…According to Truman, Gooch & Sulemana [21] cavities are the 4 th most expensive disease in the United States. Dental emergencies are also noted to be the second leading cause of outpatient surgeries at children's hospital [22].…”