Health economic evaluations in orthodontics: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Dental Economics
• Evidence-Based Dentistry

Background:

• Economic evaluation is increasingly vital in health services research.
• Assessing the economic impact of healthcare interventions is a growing priority.
• Understanding the cost-effectiveness of treatments informs resource allocation and policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on orthodontic treatment outcomes and associated costs.
• To evaluate the existing evidence base for the economic aspects of orthodontic interventions.
• To identify gaps in research regarding the health economics of orthodontics.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, etc.) from 1966 to 2014.
• Inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials or controlled clinical trials comparing orthodontic interventions with economic and clinical outcome evaluations.
• Study quality was assessed using the GRADE system, and evidence was critically appraised.

Main Results:

• The search identified 1838 studies, with 26 eligible for full-text review, ultimately narrowing to eight studies.
• Three studies used cost-effectiveness analysis, and five used cost-minimization analysis, with some considering societal costs.
• Few studies compared equivalent treatment methods with sufficient quality, indicating a limited evidence base.

Conclusions:

• A significant lack of orthodontic studies presents both economic and clinical outcomes.
• Current evidence on the health economics of orthodontic interventions is insufficient.
• Further high-quality research is warranted to establish a robust evidence base for economic evaluations in orthodontics.