The study investigated disparities in oral health among the population aged 12-65 years of age by assessing the economic impact of dental caries based on deprivation levels across six countries. The findings were:

• Exploratory analysis utilized national data on decayed, missing, and filled teeth and the likelihood of receiving interventions such as restorative procedures and extractions for various socioeconomic groups.

• The economic burden of dental caries is significantly higher among the most deprived rung of the population, with the UK experiencing the highest average costs at around £18,000 per person.

• Potential healthcare cost savings from implementing preventive measures, including community water fluoridation, sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, school education programs, and oral health campaigns, as well as individual practices like using fluoridated toothpaste, could reduce caries progression rates by 30%, particularly benefiting the most deprived groups.

• A targeted approach to prevention could yield even greater savings, with reductions estimated at about £14,000 ($17,728) per person in the UK's most disadvantaged population.

• With a levelling-up approach, cost reductions in the most deprived group ranged from US$3,948 in Indonesia to US$17,728 in the UK.