Home Dental Radiology Periodontal treatment associated with decreased diabetes mellitus–related treatment costs

Periodontal treatment associated with decreased diabetes mellitus–related treatment costs

by adminjay


Abstract

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontal disease have a suggested bidirectional relationship. Researchers have reported decreases in DM-related health care costs after periodontal treatment. The authors examined the relationship between periodontal disease treatment and DM health care costs in commercial insurance and Medicaid claims data.

Methods

This study of IBM MarketScan commercial insurance and Medicaid databases included overall outpatient, inpatient, and drug costs for patients with DM. The authors examined associations between overall health care costs per patient in 2019 according to use of periodontal services from 2017 through 2018 using generalized linear modeling. The average treatment effect on treated was calculated by means of propensity score matching using a logistic model for periodontal treatment on covariates.

Results

For commercial insurance enrollees, periodontal treatment was associated with reduced overall health care costs of 12% compared with no treatment ($13,915 vs $15,739; average treatment effect on treated, –$2,498.20; 95% CI, –$3,057.21 to –$1,939.19; P < .001). In the Medicaid cohort, periodontal treatment was associated with a 14% decrease in costs compared with patients with DM without treatment ($14,796 vs $17,181; average treatment effect on treated, –$2,917.84; 95% CI, –$3,354.48 to –$2,480.76; P < .001). There were no significant differences in inpatient costs (commercial insurance) or drug costs (Medicaid).

Conclusions

Undergoing periodontal treatment is associated with reduced overall and outpatient health care costs for patients with DM in Medicaid and commercial insurance claims data. There were no significant differences in inpatient costs for commercial insurance enrollees or in drug costs for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Practical Implications

A healthy mouth can play a key role in DM management. Expanding Medicaid benefits to include comprehensive periodontal treatment has the potential to reduce health care costs for patients with DM.

Key Words

Abbreviation Key:

ATET (Average treatment effect on treated), DM (Diabetes mellitus), HbA1c (Glycated hemoglobin), PD (Periodontal disease), PSM (Propensity score matching), SES (Socioeconomic status), T2DM (Type 2 diabetes mellitus)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders with different causes, but all are characterized by hyperglycemia (high glucose blood sugar). In DM, the body either does not make or does not properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life.

2

Diabetes. World Health Organization. Accessed December 15, 2021.