Cost-effectiveness of caries-preventive fluoride varnish applications in clinic settings among patients of low, moderate and high risk

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals.

The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Paul Hellyer

Abstract

Application of fluoride varnish targeted at high risk individuals may be more cost effective.

Main

Schwendicke F, Splieth CH, Thomson WM et al. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2018; 46: 8–16

The cost of providing 7.184 million topical fluoride applications to children and adolescents in German clinics in 2014 was €83 million. The unit cost per application was €11.46. Using computer modelling and simulation, a cohort of children aged 6 and above were 'followed' over their lifetime. The potential costs of providing treatment for carious surfaces, including initial restoration, and possible sequelae, including endodontics and crowns, were estimated from both the public and private fee lists used in Germany.

Comparing the cost effectiveness in low, medium and high caries risk groups with the regular application of varnish and no varnish, the study found that in the low risk group, applying fluoride varnish was twice as costly and only marginally more effective than no varnish. Application in medium and high risk groups was more cost effective. Costs could be reduced by applying fluoride in cheaper, non-clinic settings, and that application could be considered for high risk groups only.