Relationship between Implementation of Community-based Dental Health Programs and Health Care Costs for Mental and Behavioral Disorders

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  • TAKEUCHI Noriko
    Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • YAMAMOTO Tatsuo
    Division of Sociological Approach in Dentistry, Department of Dental Sociology, Kanagawa Dental College
  • MORITA Manabu
    Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Other Title
  • 市町村における歯科保健事業と精神および行動の障害に関する医療費との関連
  • シチョウソン ニ オケル シカ ホケン ジギョウ ト セイシン オヨビ コウドウ ノ ショウガイ ニ カンスル イリョウヒ ト ノ カンレン

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Abstract

Health care costs have been increasing each year. Most health programs are implemented to reduce health care costs. This community-based ecological study examined the relationship between the implementation of dental health care programs and health care costs for mental and behavioral disorders. <br>We calculated the monthly health care costs for mental and behavioral disorders per capita for each municipality in Okayama Prefecture (n=27) using national health insurance receipts in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Data from 1997 to 1999 and from 2007 to 2009 were averaged individually and expressed as 1998 and 2008 data, respectively. Information was obtained from each municipality on the implementation of public dental health services consisting of 9 programs, i.e., basic health examination including dental check up, occasional periodontal check up, visiting oral hygiene instructions, participation of dental hygienists in public health service, programs to improve oral function for preventive long-term care, public meetings for dental health promotion sponsored by its municipality, etc. <br>The municipalities were divided into two groups based on the implementation/non-implementation of each dental health program. Then, the change in health care costs for mental and behavioral disorders per capita between the 1998 and 2008 data was compared between the two groups according to each dental health program. <br>In all dental health care programs, the health care costs increased over ten years. There was less increase of mental health care costs in the municipalities which implemented dental health programs such as "participation of dental hygienists in public health service" and "programs for improving oral function in aged population" than in those which did not. There was a significantly negative correlation between the implementation of a dental health care program and the increase in the costs for mental and behavioral disorders during 10 years. <br>The direct relationship between dental health programs and health care costs for mental and behavioral disorders remains unclear. The health care costs of mental and behavioral disorders might decrease in municipalities which can afford to implement dental health programs. <br>In conclusion, the municipalities which executed dental health care programs tended to control the increase of health care costs for mental and behavioral disorders over ten years.

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