Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Impact of Common Fruit Juices and Toothbrushing on the Discoloration of Primary Teeth
Published on: March 27, 2026
A cost-benefit analysis of an advocacy project to fluoridate toothpastes in Nepal
Robert Yee1, Neil McDonald, David Walker
1Oral Health Programme, United Mission to Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal robyee@wlink.com.np
Objectives:
The aim of this paper is to provide a limited cost-benefit analysis of a health promotion project based on advocacy to increase the availability and consumption of fluoride toothpaste.
Basic Research Design:
The cost-benefit analysis method uses the cost-of-illness approach to analyse the costs and benefits of the health promotion project.
Setting:
The setting for the health promotion project was the country of Nepal.
Participants:
A sub-set of the population (6-18 year-olds) was used to compute the financial burden of treating projected caries in the permanent dentition.
Interventions:
The paper compares the projected effect of fluoride toothpaste versus non-fluoride toothpaste on the financial burden of dental caries for a sub-set of the Nepali population over a period of 6 years.
Outcome Measures:
The net present value (NPV) and the benefit-cost ratio are the main outcome measures.
Results:
Over a period of 6 years the NPV was US dollar 594,466 for a projected 10% reduction in dental caries of this population group as a result of fluoridation of toothpastes: US dollar 1,035,640 for a projected 20% reduction; and US dollar 2,442,333 for a projected 40% reduction in caries increment. For every US dollar 1 spent on the advocacy project to increase the availability and consumption of fluoride toothpaste, there is a potential saving in the direct cost of treating caries ranging from US dollar 87 to US dollar 356.
Conclusions:
The cost benefit analysis presented shows the project was efficient. Tangible benefits resulting from the intervention of fluoride toothpaste were quantified as well as the risks from having no intervention.