IngentaConnect A Comparison of Costs in Providing Dental Care for Special Needs ...

Authors: Prabhu, Neeta T.¹; Nunn, June H.²; Evans, David J.³

Source: Primary Dental Care, Volume 13, Number 4, October 2006 , pp. 125-128(4)

Publisher: Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)

Abstract:

Objective: To compare the costs of providing dental treatment under general anaesthesia or sedation for special needs patients.

Methods: After a Delphi exercise, a questionnaire was designed, piloted and then sent to nine NHS Trust dental service managers, within the Salaried Dental Services in the North East of England, to obtain information on the costs incurred during the treatment of special needs patients using sedation or general anaesthesia. The questionnaire related to the average number of such patients treated per session, staff costs, depreciation cost for buildings and equipment, and overhead costs including consumables and drugs.

Results: All nine dental service managers returned completed questionnaires. The all-inclusive cost for treatment per patient under general anaesthesia ranged from £203.65-£479.50 (mean cost: £285.79) and for sedation from £57.60-£153.50 (mean cost: £90.81). On average three special needs patients were treated per session. The greatest variation in the costs for general anaesthesia was due to staffing costs, which ranged from £1064.10 to £350.00 per session across the Trusts.

Conclusions: In the small number of centres sampled, the cost of delivering dental care under sedation or general anaesthesia was shown to vary widely. Overall, the mean cost of sedation was one-third that of general anaesthesia. However, the cost of both was substantial and cognisance needs to be taken of the costs of such services.

Document Type: Short communication

DOI: 10.1308/135576106778528964

Affiliations: 1: Paediatric Dentistry, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia 2: Division of Public and Child Dental Health, Dental School and Hospital, Dublin, Ireland 3: North Tyneside Primary Care Trust, UK

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A Comparison of Costs in Providing Dental Care for Special Needs Patients Under Sedation or General Anaesthesia in the North East of England