Analysis of the Cost Associated with the Treatment of Early Childhood Caries in Children Aged 2-6 Years

Abstract

One cannot deny that cost factor plays an important role in the treatment phase of any disease and thus can
widely affect the patient’s acceptance to treatment. Overall cost of treatment gives an idea of the approximate
cost differences that can be expected by patients. In this given study we aim to analyse the overall cost for
treatment procedures done for children suffering from early childhood caries in the state of Tamil Nadu. This
is a hospital based retrospective study. All data of the patients visiting Saveetha Dental College and hospitals
from June 2019 to March 2020 located in Chennai were retrieved manually. Children who were diagnosed
with early childhood caries between 2-6 years who had at least one procedure done were included. A total
of 1210 patients were included in the study out of which 660 were males (54.55%), and 550 were females
(46.45%). Out of 1210 patients: average costs for 1 to 5 procedures: Rs 231/-, 6 to 10 procedures: Rs 698/-,
11 to 15 procedures: Rs 1222/-, 16 to 20 procedures: Rs 1783/-, 21 to 25 procedures: Rs 2419/-, 26 to 30
procedures: Rs 2765/-, 31 to 35 procedures: Rs 3261/-, 36 to 40 procedures: Rs 3713/-, 41 to 45 procedures:
Rs 3893/-. Out of total procedures the patient count for 1 to 5 procedures: 715, 6 to 10 procedures: 232,
11 to 15 procedures: 98, 16 to 20 procedures: 47, 21 to 25 procedures: 40, 26 to 30 procedures: 30, 31 to
35 procedures: 25, 36 to 40 procedures: 12, 41 to 45 procedures: 4. We can conclude that the most of the
patients required 1 - 5 dental procedures with the frequency being highest at 5 years and mostly in male
children and the overall cost had a gradual linear increase with the increase in the number of procedures.