Cost-effectiveness analysis of a school-based dental caries prevention program using fluoridated milk in Bangkok, Thailand

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Author
Marino, R; Traub, F; Lekfuangfu, P; Niyomsilp, KDate
2018-02-15Source Title
BMC Oral HealthPublisher
BIOMED CENTRAL LTDUniversity of Melbourne Author/s
Marino, RodrigoAffiliation
Melbourne Dental SchoolMetadata
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Journal ArticleCitations
Marino, R., Traub, F., Lekfuangfu, P. & Niyomsilp, K. (2018). Cost-effectiveness analysis of a school-based dental caries prevention program using fluoridated milk in Bangkok, Thailand. BMC ORAL HEALTH, 18 (1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-018-0485-7.Access Status
Open AccessAbstract
BACKGROUND: This study modelled the cost-effectiveness, from a societal perspective, of a program that used fluoridated milk to prevent dental caries in children who were 6 years old at the beginning of the program, versus non-intervention, after 6 years. METHODS: After 6 years, children in the milk-fluoridation program had a significant (34%) reduction in dental caries experience compared to those in the comparison community (i.e., received school milk without added fluoride) (DMFS: 1.06 vs. 1.60). RESULTS: This improvement was achieved with an investment of Thailand Baht (THB) 5,345,048 over 6 years (or THB 11.88 per child, per year) (1 US$ = THB(2011) 30.0). When comparing the costs of the operation of the program and dental treatment in the test community with those of the comparison community, the program resulted in a net societal savings of THB 8,177,179 (range 18,597,122 to THB 7,920,711) after 6 years. This investment would result in 40,500 DMFS avoided in a community with a childhood population of 75,000 [DMFS avoided: 75,000 x (- 0.54)]. CONCLUSIONS: While the analysis has inherent limitations due to its dependence on a range of assumptions, the results suggest that, from a societal perspective, when compared with the non-intervention group, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration intervention appeared to be a more cost-efficient option than current standard oral health care.
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