Health economic aspects of implant-supported restorative therapy

Background It is poorly understood how much additional dental care patients consume subsequent to implant therapy. The aim of the present study is to evaluate costs associated with implant-supported restorative therapy during the long-term follow-up. Material and Methods Costs associated with preventive measures and complication-related procedures over a mean follow-up period of 8.2 years were assessed in patient files of 514 Swedish subjects provided with implant-supported restorative therapy. The restorative therapy and each of the subsequent interventions were assigned a specific cost. Accumulated costs were calculated in three categories: (i) total cost including initial restorative therapy and complication-related interventions, (ii) cost of preventive measures alone, and (iii) cost of complication-related procedures alone. Potential differences by background variables were analyzed using growth curve models. Results In the whole sample, costs during follow-up ranged from 878 euro (95% CI 743; 1,014) for patients with single-tooth restoration(s) to 1,210 euro (95% CI 1,091; 1,329) for subjects with full-jaw restoration(s). The majority of costs during follow-up originated from preventive measures (741 euro 95% CI 716; 766). Among individuals receiving >= 1 intervention dealing with a complication (n = 253), complication-related costs amounted to 557 euro (95% CI 480; 634). For patients with full-jaw restorations, the corresponding amount was 769 euro (95% CI 622; 916). Procedures related to peri-implantitis and technical complications resulted in costs similar to each other. Implant loss generated greater costs than any other type of complication. Conclusions Costs related to implant-supported restorative therapy during follow-up were associated with the extent of initial therapy. The higher costs during follow-up noted in patients provided with full-jaw restorations were explained by complication-associated procedures. Implant loss was the most costly type of complication.

Automated summary

It is poorly understood how much additional dental care patients consume subsequent to implant therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate costs associated with implant-supported restorative therapy during long-term follow-up. The study found that costs related to implant-supported restorative therapy during follow-up were primarily from preventive measures, with patients receiving full-jaw restorations requiring higher costs for complication-related procedures, and implant loss resulting in the highest costs among complications.