Restoring root-canal treated molars: Cost-effectiveness-analysis of direct versus indirect restorations.

Objectives: Root-canal treated molars can be directly restored, usually using resin-based-composite restorations (RBCs), or indirectly restored using full or partial crowns (FCs/PCs). Both the initial treatment costs and the risks of restorative and endodontic complications differ between RBCs and FCs/PCs. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of RBCs versus FCs/PCs for restoring root-canal treated molars.

Cost comparison of prediction-based decision-making for periodontally affected molars.

Aim: Tooth loss prediction could improve decision-making for periodontally affected molars. We analysed the costs of removing all, none or only those molars predicted to be at-risk for extraction during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).

Methods: This is a model-based study using a German private payer perspective.

Professional oral health care for preventing nursing home-acquired pneumonia: A cost-effectiveness and value of information analysis.

Aim: Professional oral health care (POHC) prevents nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) and its related mortality. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of POHC versus no POHC (nPOHC) and the monetary value of eliminating uncertainty by future research.

Methods: A German public-private payer perspective was adopted.

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

Objectives: The total body of evidence finds fluoride varnish effective to prevent caries. However, most trials were conducted in high-risk populations, with more recent trials on low-risk groups finding a lower efficacy. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish application in clinic setting in populations with different caries risk.

In-Office Application of Fluoride Gel or Varnish: Cost-Effectiveness and Expected Value of Perfect Information Analysis.

Application of fluoride gel/varnish (FG/FV) reduces caries increments but generates costs. Avoiding restorative treatments by preventing caries might compensate for these costs. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of dentists applying FG/FV in office and the expected value of perfect information (EVPI).

Cost-effectiveness of Different Post-retained Restorations.

Objectives: Dentists can choose between metal and fiber post systems to provide post-retained restorations. The risk of tooth loss and other complications differs between different post systems, as do the initial treatment costs. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of (1) cast metal (MC), (2) preformed metal (MP), (3) glass fiber (GF), and (4) carbon fiber (CF) post-retained restorations.

Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages: impact on overweight and obesity in Germany.

Background: Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increases the risk of overweight and obesity. Taxing SSBs could decrease daily energy consumption and body weight. This model-based study evaluated the impact of a 20% SSB-sales tax on overweight and obesity in the context of Germany.

Cost-effectiveness of regular versus irregular supportive periodontal therapy or tooth removal.

Aim: For periodontitis patients, regular supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) decreases risks of tooth loss, with savings for tooth replacement possibly compensating SPT-costs. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of regular versus irregular SPT, and to compare both strategies with immediate tooth removal.

Methods: A private payer perspective within German healthcare was adopted.

Retention costs of periodontally compromised molars in a German population.

Aim: This study assessed the long-term costs per retention year for periodontally affected molars.

Methods: A cohort of 379 compliant subjects was retrospectively evaluated. Periodontal, restorative, endodontic, prosthetic and surgical treatment costs were estimated based on fee items of the private German health insurance.

Calcium Hydroxide versus Mineral Trioxide Aggregate for Direct Pulp Capping: A Cost-effectiveness Analysis.

Introduction: Recent evidence finds mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) more effective than calcium hydroxide (CH) for direct pulp capping (DPC). The present study assessed the cost-effectiveness of MTA versus CH for DPC using a model-based simulation approach.

Methods: A mixed public/private payer perspective in the context of German health care was adopted.

Detection and treatment of proximal caries lesions: Milieu-specific cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objectives: Dental caries lesions are highly prevalent, concentrated in high-risk groups, and often affect proximal tooth surfaces. Choosing a caries detection method determines the available treatment options: radiographically detected early lesion stages might receive non-, micro-, or invasive treatments, whilst visually tactile detected lesions are often advanced and mostly require invasive treatment. Thus, the choice of detection method impacts on patients via the applied treatment.

Preventing and Treating Peri-Implantitis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Background: A large number of treatments for peri-implantitis are available, but their cost-effectiveness remains uncertain. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of preventing and treating peri-implantitis.

Methods: A Markov model was constructed that followed each implant over 20 years.

Secondary Treatment for Asymptomatic Root Canal Treated Teeth: A Cost-effectiveness Analysis.

Introduction: When faced with a clinically asymptomatic root canal treated tooth with certain radiographic findings (e.g., underextended or overextended root fillings or persistent periapical lesions), clinicians need to decide between endodontically retreating the tooth before restoration or not retreating it now but possibly later on.

Cost-effectiveness of caries excavations in different risk groups - a micro-simulation study.

Background: Whilst being the most prevalent disease worldwide, dental caries is increasingly concentrated in high-risk populations. New caries treatments should therefore be evaluated not only in terms of their cost-effectiveness in individuals, but also their effects on the distribution of costs and benefits across different populations. To treat deep caries, there are currently three strategies: selective (one-step incomplete), stepwise (two-step incomplete) and complete excavation.

Retaining or replacing molars with furcation involvement: a cost-effectiveness comparison of different strategies.

Aim: The comparative cost-effectiveness of retaining or replacing molars with furcation involvement (FI) remains unclear. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of retaining FI molars via periodontal treatments versus replacing them via implant-supported crowns (ISCs).

Methods: Using tooth-level Markov models, we followed a molar with FI degree I or II/III in a 50-year-old patient over his lifetime.

Direct pulp capping after a carious exposure versus root canal treatment: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Introduction: Excavation of deep caries often leads to pulpal exposure even in teeth with sensible, nonsymptomatic pulps. Although direct pulp capping (DPC) aims to maintain pulpal health, it frequently requires follow-up treatments like root canal treatment (RCT), which could have been performed immediately after the exposure, with possibly improved outcomes. We quantified and compared the long-term cost-effectiveness of both strategies.

Costs and effectiveness of treatment alternatives for proximal caries lesions.

Objectives: Invasive therapy of proximal caries lesions initiates a cascade of re-treatment cycles with increasing loss of dental hard tissue. Non- and micro-invasive treatment aim at delaying this cascade and may thus reduce both the health and economic burden of such lesions. This study compared the costs and effectiveness of alternative treatments of proximal caries lesions.

Transitivity in health utility measurement: An experimental analysis.

Several experimental studies have observed substantial violations of transitivity for decisions between risky lotteries over monetary outcomes. The goal of our experiment is to test whether these violations also affect the evaluation of health states. A particular feature of our experimental design is that it takes into account the possible role of decision errors for generating violations of transitivity.

The impact of new drug launches on the loss of labor from disease and injury: evidence from German panel data.

We study the impact of new drug launches on early retirement due to disease and injury in the German labor force between 1988 and 2004. We show that new drug launches have substantially helped to reduce the loss of labor at the disease-level over time. In Western Germany alone, each new chemical entity is estimated to have saved on average around 200 working years in every year of the observation period.

The welfare costs of HIV/AIDS in eastern Europe: an empirical assessment using the economic value-of-life approach.

Based on the aggregation of individual willingness-to-pay for a statistical life, we calibrate an inter-temporal optimisation model to determine the aggregate welfare loss from HIV/AIDS in 25 Eastern European countries. Assuming a discount rate of 3%, we find a total welfare loss for the whole region that exceeds US $800 billion, approximately 10% of the region's annual GDP between 1995 and 2001. Although prevalence and incidence rates diverge sharply between countries-with central Europe far less affected than major countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltics-the epidemic is likely to spread to all countries unless a coherent strategy of prevention and treatment is backed up by substantial increases in healthcare investments.