The economic impact of different diagnostic criteria assessing caries lesions around restorations in primary teeth

Abstract

The aim of this randomized clinical trial will be to evaluate the economic impact of two clinical criteria for caries lesions evaluation in restorations of primary teeth. In order to reach this aim, it is estimated the inclusion of 626 restorations of primary teeth from 204 children, aging 3 to 10 years, who sought dental treatment in our dental school. Children will be randomly allocated in two groups, according to the diagnostic criteria used for caries detection: World Dental Federation (FDI) clinical criteria or the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS). The first examinator will elaborate the treatment plan which will be executed by another examinator, blinded to the diagnostic group. Subsequently, children will be treated and followed up for 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, for assessment of the restorations and costing related to new necessary treatments. For each diagnostic criteria, the economic impact will be evaluated through the analysis of direct and indirect costs as well as cost-efectiveness and cost-utility analysis. Cost evaluation will acknowledge data directly collected during this randomized clinical trial. (AU)