Caries incidence and costs of prevention programs

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Caries increments and prevention program costs are crucial for public health planning.
• Existing data on caries incidence and program expenditures require synthesis for effective decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present data on annual caries increments across various age groups.
• To detail the direct costs associated with different dental caries prevention programs.
• To provide background information for a workshop on dental caries prevention.

Main Methods:

• Caries increment estimates derived from control groups in clinical trials, epidemiologic studies, and national surveys.
• Cost data collected from dental public health officials, program administrators, and water plant operators across the US.
• Cost data expressed in 1988 dollars, focusing on direct program costs.

Main Results:

• Caries incidence data reported for age groups 5-17 (fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas), 18-44, 45-64, and 65+.
• Direct program costs detailed for community water fluoridation, fluoride supplements, fluoride mouthrinses, school fluoridation, and sealant programs.
• Material and salary costs included for professionally and self-applied fluoride programs.

Conclusions:

• The study provides essential data for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of dental caries prevention strategies.
• Understanding program costs and caries increments is vital for optimizing public health interventions.
• Assumptions and factors included in cost assessments are described for transparency.