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The Economic Toll of Dental Caries in Disadvantaged Populations
Recent research has highlighted the significant economic burden of dental caries, or tooth decay, particularly among the most disadvantaged groups. In the UK, an individual’s costs related to dental decay can reach around £18,000, a figure that could be notably decreased through targeted preventive strategies.
This study, published in BMC Public Health and commissioned by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), explores the disparities in oral health by calculating the economic impact of dental caries based on social deprivation across six different countries. The research team consisted of international experts, including Professor Moritz Kebschull and Professor Iain Chapple from the University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry, who crafted a simulation model to analyze healthcare expenses associated with dental caries from adolescence into middle age in various regions, including the UK, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, and Italy.
The simulation model utilized national data concerning decayed, missing, and filled teeth, along with the likelihood of receiving various dental procedures, such as extractions or restorations, tailored for different socioeconomic groups. The findings indicate that the financial impact of dental caries is exceptionally severe for those in lower-income brackets, with the UK presenting the highest individual costs among the studied countries, estimated at approximately £18,000 ($22,910).
Professor Iain Chapple, a leading figure in periodontology and restorative dentistry at the University of Birmingham and head of the Oral, Intestinal and Systemic Health research theme at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), emphasized the importance of preventive measures:
“Our research underscores the urgent need for both early intervention and sustained preventive efforts to tackle the economic and health inequalities tied to dental caries. By directing our focus towards the most vulnerable sectors of society, we can achieve significant cost reductions and enhance overall oral health outcomes.”
He continued, “In line with recent resolutions from the World Health Organization concerning oral health, our findings advocate for a more comprehensive public health strategy in managing caries, which prioritizes preventive care over treatment to improve the oral health landscape in our communities.”
The study also examined how different preventive measures could reduce healthcare costs effectively. These strategies encompass societal initiatives such as community water fluoridation, sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, educational programs in schools, and broader oral health awareness campaigns, as well as individual actions that include proper oral hygiene practices like brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and topical fluoride applications.
When uniformly applied, these interventions could potentially reduce the progression of dental caries by 30%. Notably, the most significant drop in per-person costs for managing dental caries was observed within lower-income groups. A focused approach to preventive measures, targeting individuals who are most affected, could yield even more substantial savings, estimating reductions of about £14,000 ($17,728) per person in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.
Professor Moritz Kebschull, head of the Division for Periodontology and Oral Rehabilitation at the University of Birmingham and a researcher at the NIHR Birmingham BRC, noted: “Our findings reveal that individuals from the most deprived backgrounds tend to exhibit higher rates of dental caries from a young age, leading to compounded costs over time. Hence, it is critical to initiate preventive care early, concentrating on reducing caries among children and sustaining this emphasis throughout their lives.”
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