POTENTIAL RISK-FACTORS FOR OVERTREATMENT IN MILITARY DENTISTRY

Recent studies in the National Health Service in Scotland have suggest ed that frequent changes of dentist, and frequent dental examinations, subject individuals to an increased risk of receiving dental treatmen t. The present study tested the influence of these two factors on dent al health changes, the amount of dental treatment received, and restor ation longevity in a population of 100 long-term members of the Royal Australian Air Force. Despite the predictions possible from the Scotti sh research, the present study failed to find any significant links be tween frequent attendance or frequent change of dentist and dental hea lth or restoration longevity. However, the type of treatment provided appeared to be influenced by frequency of attendance and military rank .