Cost-effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes in the UK.
(Journal of Clinical Periodontology; doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12746)
Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn, Mark Ide, Mark Pennington
Dr Varkha Rattu
Healthcare services need to consider both the benefits and costs of treatment. This study explored whether caring for gum disease could offer good value for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers built an economic model comparing gum treatment with ongoing maintenance against routine care without that treatment programme. The model combined published estimates of dental costs, tooth loss and changes in blood glucose. It projected outcomes over people’s remaining lifetimes rather than following patients for life.
Gum treatment appeared to offer reasonable value in many of the modelled groups, particularly when starting blood glucose was higher.
It did not simply save money in every scenario: treatment costs could exceed the savings, while still providing estimated health benefits.
Results depended strongly on assumptions about attending maintenance and how long glucose improvements lasted.
The study can inform service planning, but it cannot tell you what your own treatment will cost or promise savings on diabetes care. The prices and service arrangements reflected the UK at the time of the research. Whether treatment is appropriate for you depends first on your dental condition and goals, with costs and follow-up discussed as part of an individual care plan.
A model explores what might happen if its assumptions are correct. Its projections are not outcomes observed in patients over their lifetimes. Different assumptions about treatment costs, attendance and the duration of any health benefit can change the answer. Healthcare arrangements and prices also change over time.
For patients, this research is more useful for understanding service planning than predicting a personal bill or treatment response.
Decisions about funding require updated information as well as a judgement about which assumptions are realistic.
Read the full article Back to Research
Periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent condition globally
Periodontitis and diabetes are bidirectionally linked
Diabetic complications are increased if you have both diseases
Successful periodontal treatment can improve blood glucose control
Periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent condition globally
Periodontitis and diabetes are bidirectionally linked
Diabetic complications are increased if you have both diseases
Successful periodontal treatment can improve blood glucose control
