Use of the Dental Disease Nonbattle Injury Encounter Module to Assess the Emergency Rate on an Army Military Installation Within the United States

Abstract

The objectives of this study are (1) to establish a baseline rate for dental emergencies (DE) occurring within a Brigade Combat Team (BCT) garrisoned on a military installation located in the continental United States (CONUS), and (2) to determine if differences in risk of DE are observed in soldiers of different Dental Fitness Classifications (DFC). Data concerning DE were documented by Army Dental Corps providers using CONUS Dental Disease Nonbattle Injury Emergency Encounter module of the Corporate Dental Application (CDA). The data were collected from September 1, 2011 to December 15, 2011. The number of soldiers at risk, the BCT dental readiness, the DFC of each soldier who experienced a DE, and the date of the dental visit that preceded the DE were documented from CDA. The estimated rate of 221 DE per 1,000 soldiers per year was observed. The risk of DE for DFC 3 soldiers was five times that of soldiers who were DFC 1 or 2. Assessing the DE rate of a BCT in garrison is useful for stakeholders and policymakers who must accommodate the impact of DE on mission readiness.