Army Reserve Component Dental Health and Readiness

Abstract

This article provides an overview of dental readiness in the Army Reserve Components. An historical perspective, cur­rent programs, developing initiatives, and trends in metrics measuring dental readiness are presented. The importance of the civilian/military partnership is stressed.

Doing Your Part for National Security: Providing Quality Care to Our Military and Veterans

“…Being "medically ready" includes having all required immunizations as well as having one's oral health at a Dental Classification of 1 or 2, meaning normal condition or not likely to need treatment within 12 months. Retired Major General, US Army Dr. T. Rob Tempel, Jr., former chief of the US Army Dental Corps and current Associate Dean for Extramural Clinical Practices at the ECU School of Dental Medicine, and LTC Joel Bachman, Dental Corps officer in the North Carolina Army National Guard, provide details about dental readiness and suggest ways that civilian dentists can assist their patients in achieving this annual requirement [13].…”