What do systematic reviews say?

Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• School dental screening programmes for oral health 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
  As none of the studies reported cost-effectiveness, we could not assess the cost-benefit aspect of school dental screening.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall led to lower cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD -53.00 [-76.91, -29.09]
  1 study · 375 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD -9.49 [-23.05, 4.07]
  1 study · 1944 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall led to higher cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 34.00 [9.78, 58.22]
  1 study · 375 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 17.00 [-14.34, 48.34]
  1 study · 404 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 13.77 [-1.56, 29.11]
  1 study · 2006 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD -16.00 [-51.76, 19.76]
  1 study · 404 participants
  GRADE not reported

Capitation remuneration vs Fee-for-service remuneration

Capitation remuneration showed no clear difference in healthcare costs: mean expenditure in GBP per 0- to 15-year-old… compared with fee-for-service remuneration (low certainty).

• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year · Scottish community
  MD 1.52
  1 study · 276414 participants
  Low
• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year · Northern urban community
  MD 4.22
  1 study · 276414 participants
  Low
• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year · Commuter suburb community
  MD 6.18
  1 study · 276414 participants
  Low

Fee‐for‐service (FFS) vs no intervention or control intervention (control)

• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  18 months
  ICER 0.10
  1 study · 68 participants
  Very low