title: Modeling an economic evaluation of a salt fluoridation program in Peru.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article models the cost-effectiveness, from a societal viewpoint, of a dental caries prevention program using salt fluoridation for children 12 years of age, compared with non-intervention (or status quo) in Arequipa, Peru.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard cost-effectiveness analysis methods were used. The costs associated with implementing and operating the salt-fluoridation program were identified and measured using 2009 prices. Health outcomes were measured as dental caries averted over a 6-year period. Clinical effectiveness data was taken from published data. Costs were measured as direct treatment costs, programs costs and costs of productivity losses as a result of dental treatments. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated. A hypothetical population of 25,000 12-year-olds living in Arequipa, Peru was used in this analysis. Two-way sensitivity analyses were conducted over a range of values for key parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our primary analysis estimated that if a dental caries prevention program using salt-fluoridation was available for 25,000 6-year-old children for 6 years, the net saving from a societal perspective would total S/. 11.95 [1 US$ = S/. (2009) 3.01] per diseased tooth averted when compared with the status quo group. That is, after 6 years, an investment of S/.0.32 per annum per child would result in a net saving of S/.11.95 per decayed/missing/filled teeth prevented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the analysis has inherent limitations as a result of its reliance on a range of assumptions, the findings indicate that for the situations prevailing in Peru, there are significant health and economic benefits to be gained from the use of salt fluoridation.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Science, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia. rmarino@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Rodrigo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mariño
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arana
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Flor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pachas
mesh_terms: D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D017046:Cost Savings; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D016527:Drug Costs; D004526:Efficiency; D005459:Fluorides / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D010568:Peru; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D005459:Fluorides