Abstract
Objectives: University-led dental clinics are rarely seen as core to the national healthcare system. Thus, when publicly funded universities experience a decline in government support, dental clinic services operated by students are confronted by a potentially inadequate operating budget. Prompted by the need for strategic resource allocation, this study seeks to quantify the resources consumed in the construction of complete dentures by undergraduate students in an effort to identify opportunities for cost-cutting measures. Methods: Clinical cases were retrieved from the logbooks of graduating students of Class 2015, and patient records were reviewed to identify and quantify all clinical and laboratory procedures involved in constructing a set of complete dentures. Cost estimation was carried out using the activity-based method on the basis of direct medical costs. Results: A total of 83 patient records were reviewed. The average number of visits required to fabricate a set of complete dentures was 10 (range, 6–20 visits) with an average total cost of MYR2131±538 (€450±114). The number of visits contributed substantially to the total cost, and procedures requiring multiple visits included secondary impression and jaw relation recording. The major cost components were dental equipment (44%), laboratory costs (28%), dental consumables (17%), salaries (7%), and dental instruments (3%). Conclusion: The operating cost for training students in denture fabrication is substantial. Schools should formulate strategies to reduce the number of patient visits by ensuring that students optimize the time spent per visit. A financially sustainable model to fund dental training is necessary to ensure that quality of care is not compromised in university-led clinics.
References
Holly Else. Malaysia cuts public university funding. Nov 7, 2016.
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ malaysia-cuts-public-university-funding.
Stafford GL, Nourzad F, Lobb WK, Beall JR. The economic costs and benefits of dental education: an empirical analysis. J Dent Educ. 2014; 78: 1497- 507.
Paulino MR, Alves LR, Gurgel BC, Calderon PS. Simplified versus traditional techniques for complete denture fabrication: a systematic review. J Prosthet Dent 2015; 113: 12-6.
Ahmad R, Affandi NF, Mohd Ayub NAF, Mustafa NA, Mohd Yusof MYP, Mohd Dom TN. The value of panoramic radiograph as screening tool prior to complete denture construction. J Dent Indones 2019; 26: 65-9.
Kawai Y, Murakami H, Shariati B, Klemetti E, Blomfield JV, Billette L, Lund JP, Feine JS. Do traditional techniques produce better conventional complete dentures than simplified techniques? J Dent 2005; 33: 659-68.
Heydecke G, Vogeler M, Wolkewitz M, Türp JC, Strub JR. Simplified versus comprehensive fabrication of complete dentures: patient ratings of denture satisfaction from a randomized crossover trial. Quintessence Int 2008; 39:107-16.
Cunha TR, Della Vecchia MP, Regis RR, Ribeiro AB, Muglia VA, Mestriner W Jr, de Souza RF. A randomised trial on simplified and conventional methods for complete denture fabrication: masticatory performance and ability. J Dent 2013; 41: 133-42.
Regis RR, Cunha TR, Della Vecchia MP, Ribeiro AB, Silva-Lovato CH, de Souza RF. A randomised trial of a simplified method for complete denture fabrication: patient perception and quality. J Oral Rehabil 2013; 40: 535-45.
Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia. (2014). National oral health survey of adults 2010 (NOHSA 2010): Kuala Lumpur.
Mohd-Dom TN, Ayob R, Mohd-Nur A, Abdul- Manaf MR, Ishak N, Abdul-Muttalib K, Aljunid SM, Ahmad-Yaziz Y, Abdul-Aziz H, Kasan N, Mohd-Asari AS. Cost analysis of periodontitis management in public sector specialist dental clinics. BMC Oral Health 2014; 14: 56.
Mohd-Dom TN, Mohd-Said S, Abdul-Manaf MR, Abdul-Muttalib K, Aljunid SM. A detailed framework of methods used to calculate costs of periodontal treatment in Malaysian public sector clinics. Malaysian J Pub Health Med 2016; 16: 249-60.
Brackishwater Aquaculture Development and Training Project Fisheries Extension Officers Training Manual. http://www.fao.org/docrep/ field/003/AC061E/AC061E33.htm
Malaysian Dental Association. 2010. Recommended scale of fees. http://www.mda.org.my/ index.html (Accessed 22nd May 2014).
Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health. 2012. Maklumat Subsidi Kerajaan Untuk Rawatan Pergigian Asas di Klinik Pergigian Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia bagi Warganegara (Government subsidy information for basic dental treatment at dental clinics of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, for citizens).
Recommended Citation
Ahmad, R., Zul, N., Mohtar, S., Tennant, M., & Mohd-Dom, T. Revisiting a Funding Model for University-led Dental Clinics: The Case of Complete Denture Fabrication. J Dent Indones. 2020;27(2): 61-66
