title: Post-trial costs, clinical outcomes, and dental service utilization after a randomized clinical trial for caries control among Finnish adolescents.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess post-trial treatment costs, clinical outcomes [decayed, missing or filled surfaces (DMFS) scores], and utilization of dental services among adolescents who had participated in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) in Pori, Finland, in 2001-2005. At baseline the children were 11-12 yr of age and had had at least one active initial caries lesion. The children in the experimental group (n = 250) had been exposed to multiple measures for caries control, while those in the control group (n = 247) had received standard dental care. During the post-trial period (2005-2008), all participants received the standard dental care offered in public dental clinics in Pori. In both groups the costs of treatment procedures and outcomes for the post-trial period were calculated for each adolescent. Information from patient records was available for 487 adolescents (former experimental n = 246, control n = 241). The mean total costs per adolescent were lower and the clinical outcome was better among the former experimental-group participants. The differences in mean costs between the groups were statistically significant for preventive and restorative procedures. The utilization of dental services was significantly more regular among the former experimental-group participants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. pauliina.hietasalo@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Pauliina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hietasalo
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seppä
authors.forename: Ahti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niinimaa
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hausen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D017046:Cost Savings; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000191:economics; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000191:economics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000191:economics; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000191:economics; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local