Endodontics and dental readiness

The primary mission of the Dental Corps-maintaining the dental health of ou r soldiers at an optimum level to ensure their readiness to deploy and figh t-is more important than ever in today's downsized, high-operational-tempo Army. A review of the literature indicates that 20 to 25% of all soldiers w ill report on dental sick call during a 1-year deployment, and approximatel y half will require endodontic intervention. This could cost a division mor e than 18,000 man-days of combat effectiveness in a theater of battle, an u nacceptable loss. Approximately three-fourths of these sick call visits cou ld be prevented if selected conditions were identified and treated before d eployment. Endodontic conditions, which result in the majority of dental si ck call complaints, should be given priority for treatment in garrison, and the identified soldier should be placed in dental fitness class 3 until th e tooth is definitively treated.