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Pit and fissure sealants on primary molars cost-effective in children at high caries risk
![Pit and fissure sealants on primary molars cost-effective in children at high caries risk Pit and fissure sealants on primary molars cost-effective in children at high caries risk](https://medicaldialogues.in/h-upload/2023/06/20/750x450_212205-fissure-sealant.webp)
Pit and fissure sealants on primary molars cost-effective in children at high caries risk suggests a new study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association
In this study, the authors examine the cost-effectiveness of light-polymerized resin-based fluoride sealants on primary molars in high caries risk children younger than 6 years.
The authors examined the cost-effectiveness of pit-and-fissure sealant (PFS) treatment on primary molars by comparing sealed and unsealed molars treated in the outpatient clinic or operating room. Using 1,884 primary molars followed over a 5-year period, the authors used a mixed-effects regression model to estimate the probability of caries development. They used restricted means to estimate years free of caries for carious molars. They used a decision tree to address uncertainty due to PFS treatment failure, predict the expected value associated with each strategy, and estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio using a 3% discount rate to adjust future cost and outcomes to present value.
Results
Over 5 years, the cost of care was $90 for unsealed molars and $75 for sealed molars. Unsealed molars remained caries free for 4.32 years compared with 4.85 years in sealed molars. The cost-effectiveness of PFS treatment was dominant, leading to a savings of $25 for each caries-free year gained and overall savings of $742 million for the United States dental health system over a 5-year period.
PFS treatment is associated with cost savings and a delay in caries development and should be considered in children with high caries risk.
Practical Implications
Policy makers should consider reimbursement of PFS treatment on primary molars in high caries risk children.
Reference:
Yara Halasa-Rappel, Jennifer Archibald, Paulina Miller, Michael Hong, Man Wai Ng, Rosalyn Sulyanto, et al. Pit-and-fissure sealants on primary molars are cost savings. The Journal of the American Dental Association. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2021.05.005
Keywords:
Pit, fissure, sealants, primary molars, cost-effective, children, high caries, risk,The Journal of the American Dental Association
Dr. Shravani Dali has completed her BDS from Pravara institute of medical sciences, loni. Following which she extensively worked in the healthcare sector for 2+ years. She has been actively involved in writing blogs in field of health and wellness. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of public health-health administration from Tata institute of social sciences. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751