A Comparative Expected Cost Analysis Study on Dental Services and Products Used in the United States

Abstract

The present comparative analysis study conducted expected cost analysis on 32 dental services and products used in the United States. The expected cost of the 32 products and services were determined by dividing cost with effectiveness. The products and services were then ranked in terms of value within each of the following categories: 1) nine teeth whitening products (whitening strips, on-line bleaching tray, dental office bleaching, dental office take home tray, baking soda toothpaste, lemon juice, whitening toothpaste, whitening mouthwash and charcoal toothpaste), 2) three teeth straightening products (Smile Direct Club, Invisalign and orthodontic braces), 3) four filling types (gold cast, ceramic, silver amalgam and composite resin), 4) four types of crowns (resin, porcelain, porcelain-fused metal and metal), 5) six tooth decay treatment options (root canal, extraction, dentures, traditional veneers, no prep veneers and implants and 6) six tooth decay prevention options (water fluoridation, fluoride mouth wash, fluoride toothpaste, silver diamine fluoride solution, professional flossing & cleaning with fluoride, professional flossing & cleaning) were evaluated.It was found that the hydrogen peroxide gel strips provided the most value in whitening teeth and Smile Direct Club provided the most value to straighten teeth. Community fluoridated waterprovided the most value reducing the prevalence of cavities anddental insurance did not provide value reducing overall patient dental costs. The present study did not find a significant difference between the cost to prevent a cavity and the cost to fill a cavity. The expected cost to prevent a cavity by community fluoridated water was $11 per year and the expected cost to prevent a cavity using fluoridated mouth rinse was found to be $16 per year, while the expected annual cost of an amalgam filling was $16.24.