Relationship Between the Number of Occlusal Supporting and Medical Cost: Analysis Using Large Claims Database from Employee Health Care Insurance in Japan

Abstract

Background: There are several previous reports suggesting that the number of remaining teeth is related to increase of total medical expenditure. However, the measurements of oral healthcare conditions used in the previous studies were the number of remaining teeth, and occlusal support was not assessed. Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between occlusal support and healthcare resource utilization. Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study using a claims database. Measurements of occlusal support were defined by the Eichner and Miyachi classification systems based on dental formula information. Medical healthcare resource usage was measured by medical visit rate and 12-month medical expenditure. Results:Of the total population in the claims database, 1 288 713 patients were included in the analysis. The proportion of patients who had at least one medical visit and annual medical expenditure in the best condition classes in each classification measure (i.e. A1 for Eichner classification and Area I for Miyachi classification in both endpoints) were 58.2% and 61.1%, and JPY34 597 (US$314.52 at JPY110/US$) and JPY43 129 (US$392.08), respectively. Those in the poorest condition classes in each classification measure (i.e. B3 for Eichner classification and Area IV for Miyachi classification in the medical visit rate, and C1 for Eichner classification and Area III for Miyachi classification in medical expenditure) were 75.3% and 75.1%, and JPY149 339 (US$1357.63) and JPY120 925 (US$1099.32), respectively. We found a positive correlation with the outcomes by regression analysis adjusting for deterioration of occlusal support with age and gender. Conclusion:We found significant relationships between occlusal support conditions and healthcare resource utilization. The maintenance of oral health or dental treatment may positively impact overall health, and active dental intervention may reduce the total medical expenditure.

Antemortem tooth loss as a biomarker of poverty: Dental evidence of “weathering” in a contemporary U.S. skeletal sample

“…Eichner Indices were then assigned based on present occlusal pairs [ 43 , 62 , 63 ]. The Eichner Index considers the first and second molars, premolars, and anterior teeth as functional, occlusal support zones ( Fig.…”

Association Between Reduced Posterior Occlusal Contact and Alzheimer’s Disease Onset in Older Japanese Adults: Results from the LIFE Study

“…Several indices, such as the Eichner classification and the number of total functional tooth units (FTUs), are used to evaluate the posterior occlusal contact [ 19, 20 ]. The Eichner classification was used in this study to evaluate the posterior occlusal contact because it is a useful clinical classification for revealing the exact prosthetic requirements and is a proven tool for evaluating the posterior occlusal contact from claim data (dental formula information) [ 21 ].…”