Estimation of the costs of smoking-related oral disease: a representative South Korean study.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to estimate the socioeconomic and psychological costs associated with smoking-related oral disease (SROD) with the aim of generating objective data that could be used in smoking cessation counselling by dental care providers and could also serve as data with which to set standards and criteria for use in dental health insurance.

METHODS

Patients were sourced from the 11 dental hospitals associated with dental schools in South Korea. A total of 1,288 of 10,080 patients with SROD were selected to participate in the study for a period of 2 years from January 2009 to March 2011. Data collected were analysed using spss Version 17.0.

RESULTS

Among the SRODs, the most common was periodontal disease (40.7%). Periodontal disease accounted for the highest social and economic costs. Mouth cancer accounted for the highest psychological cost.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to reduce associated socioeconomic and psychological costs, dental care providers and government should provide more proactive and more efficient smoking cessation programmes.