Abstract: Objective    To analyze the economic burden and the regional disparities of deciduous dental caries among 5-year-old Chinese children in 2005 and 2015. Methods    The study was conducted at Peking University School of Stomatology（Jan.-Apr. 2025）. Based on data from China's 3rd（2005）and 4th（2015）National Oral Health Epidemiological Surveys（5-year-old group），the demographic and economic data of China Statistical Yearbooks in 2005 and 2015，the current medical service pricing regulations issued by the medical security bureaus of provinces，autonomous regions and municipalities and the guidelines for the initiation of dental medical service price projects（Trial）issued by the National Medical Security Bureau in March 2025，and World Bank open data，the direct economic burden calculation model was established by setting Low-Cost Treatment Plan（LCTP）and Medium-to-High-Cost Treatment Plan（MHCTP）via unit-cost approach，while indirect economic burden calculation model was established using human capital approach，in order to quantify the economic burden and regional disparities caused by untreated deciduous caries. Results    The total direct economic burden of deciduous dental caries among 5-year-old children was approximately ¥4.62 billion in 2005 and ¥4.63 billion in 2015 based on the LCTP. Based on the MHCTP，the total direct economic burden remained at approximately ¥6.23 billion for both years. The indirect economic burden increased from ¥1.97 billion in 2005 to ¥4.44 billion in 2015. Notably，central/western/remote regions exhibited higher per-capita direct burdens and there was significant indirect burden growth，and most rural children faced heavier direct burdens than urban counterparts. Conclusion    The total economic burden of deciduous dental caries among 5-year-old children in China in 2005 and 2015 remains enormous. Children in the central and western regions，remote areas and rural areas face greater economic burden challenges.

Key words: economic burden of disease, children, caries

摘要： 目的    分析我国2005年和2015年5岁儿童乳牙龋病经济负担状况及其地区差异特征。方法    研究于2025年1—4月在北京大学口腔医院进行。基于我国2005年第三次和2015年第四次全国口腔健康流行病学调查中5岁儿童数据，国家统计局统计年鉴中2005年和2015年的人口和经济数据，相应省、自治区、直辖市医疗保障局发布的现行医疗服务项目价格规范和2025年3月国家医疗保障局发布的口腔类医疗服务价格项目立项指南（试行）标准，以及世界银行公开数据，采用单位成本法分别设定低成本和中高成本诊疗方案构建直接经济负担计算模型及人力资本法构建间接经济负担计算模型，量化未治疗乳牙龋病带来的经济负担及其地区差异特征。结果    在低成本诊疗方案条件下，2005年我国5岁儿童乳牙龋病直接经济负担总量约46.2亿元，2015年约46.3亿元；在中高成本诊疗方案条件下，2005年和2015年我国5岁儿童乳牙龋病的直接经济负担总量均约62.3亿元。间接经济负担总量从2005年的约19.7亿元上升至2015年的约44.4亿元。中西部、边远地区人均直接经济负担较高、间接经济负担总量涨幅较大，大多数地区乡村儿童直接经济负担高于城镇儿童。结论    我国2005年和2015年5岁儿童乳牙龋病经济负担总量庞大，且中西部及边远地区、居住在乡村的儿童面临更大的经济负担挑战。

关键词: 疾病经济负担, 儿童, 龋病