Long-term treatment costs of chronic periodontitis patients in Germany

Abstract

Aim: We assessed the long-term costs for treating chronic periodontitis (CP) patients.

Methods: A cohort of compliant CP patients was retrospectively evaluated. Costs for active periodontal therapy (APT, including scaling and root planning, open flap debridement, root resections) and supportive periodontal therapy (SPT including periodontal, restorative, endodontic, prosthetic and surgical treatments) were estimated from a mixed payer perspective in Germany. The impact of tooth- and patient-level factors on annual costs was assessed using mixed-modelling.

Results: Two hundred and seventy-three patients (mean ± SD age: 49.6 ± 8.8 years), with 24.3 ± 4.5 teeth, were included. Mean follow-up was 18.7 ± 5.7 years. Total treatment costs per patient and per tooth were 6,146 ± 2,236 and 222 ± 98 Euro, respectively. Costs were generated mainly by periodontal therapy and during SPT. Annualized patient- and tooth-level costs were 348 ± 159 and 12.4 ± 5.7 Euro, respectively. Annual costs increased significantly in older patients, regular attenders, those with fewer teeth (<24) at baseline and teeth with higher probing pocket depths or mobility 3 at baseline.

Conclusions: Annual costs for treating CP patients were lower than those found for aggressive periodontitis patients. Regular attendance and having more severe periodontitis came with higher costs per year.

Keywords: dental; effectiveness; health economics; periodontal disease; periodontitis.