Elsevier

Dental Abstracts

Volume 61, Issue 5, September–October 2016, Pages 228-229
Dental Abstracts

Commentary
Periodontal care−health care cost connection

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2016.07.001Get rights and content

Section snippets

Background

The glycemic control of persons with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease show a bidirectional relationship, although proof is indeterminate about whether periodontal interventions in persons with type 2 diabetes produce improved glycemic control and better outcomes in other health parameters. Studies so far have tried to determine if periodontal interventions in persons with type 2 diabetes reduce inflammatory markers, which could lead to fewer diabetes-related complications, which

Methods

The subjects were adults age 18 through 64 years who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007. The 15,002 individuals who participated were divided into 7367 persons who initiated diabetes medication and 7635 persons who did not in the 2 years after diagnosis. The two subgroups were evaluated for the effect of a periodontal intervention on health care outcomes. This included total inpatient medical costs, outpatient medical costs, and prescription

Results

The doubly robust (DR) ATE of a periodontal intervention in persons who did not initiate diabetes medication in the first 2 years after diagnosis was estimated. Users of periodontal therapy had total health care averaging $2402 less in years 3 and 4. Average total medical costs were $1609 lower and type 2 diabetes−related health care costs were $411 lower. The periodontal intervention did not have a significant relationship with emergency room use or number of outpatient physician visits.

Discussion

A statistically significant association was found between having a periodontal intervention and lower health care costs for persons who were not taking diabetic drugs after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Those who were taking diabetic prescription drugs saw no similar effect for periodontal intervention, possibly because their diabetes was sufficiently controlled without medication.

Clinical Significance

Although some nonobservable factors may have been at work in the process, it appears

References (0)

Cited by (0)

Nasseh K, Vujicic M, Glick M: The relationship between periodontal interventions and healthcare costs and utilization. Evidence from an integrated dental, medical, and pharmacy commercial claims database. Health Econ 22 Jan 2016

Reprints available from American Dental Association, Health Policy Inst, Chicago, IL; e-mail: [email protected]

View full text