A theoretical and estimated cost analysis of standard infection control in private practice dentistry
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Abstract
The purpose of this project was to determine the cost of infection control for private dental practices by a theoretical estimate and a survey of practicing dentists.
For the survey, a 27 item pretested questionnaire of infection control costs was mailed to a stratified sample of 126 general dentists in the greater Boston area. The characteristics of the survey respondents closely resembled those of the typical size practice as defined using the 1986 ADA Survey of Dental Practice. The estimated cost of additional infection control supplies by survey respondents ranged from $0.00 to $1000.00+ per month and had a median value of $1.22 per patient visit.
The theoretical cost estimate was developed for the typical size dental practice. The CDC “Recommended Infection Control Practices for Dentistry” was used to determine the minimum number of supplies that are now used for infection control. Using national dental supply catalogues, an estimate of $1.11 per patient visit for supplies was projected, demonstrating a difference of 11 cents or lO% between the theoretical cost estimate and the estimated costs of the survey respondents. An additional $2.37 per patient visit was projected for labor using the survey questionnaire responses and the 1986 ADA Survey of Dental Practice adjusted by the Consumer Price Index.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1988 (Dental Public Health).
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 25-28).
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 25-28).
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This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author.