Dental emergency visits of Marine Corps personnel.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and distribution of dental emergencies in Marine Corps personnel. Dental emergencies were recorded from June 1989 to June 1990 for personnel who were in garrison, deployed, or participating in field exercises. A standardized data-collection form was distributed to participating Marine Corps dental clinics and to dental officers assigned to Marine Corps deployments or field exercises. A total of 890 dental emergency visits by Marines were recorded: 699 for Marines while in garrison, 136 while deployed, and 55 while participating in field exercises. Tooth/restoration fracture without pulpal involvement and pericoronitis were the most frequent diagnoses at emergency visits in each of the three environments. The mean incidence rate of dental emergencies per 1,000 person-years for deployed Marine Corps personnel was 57.2.

Patients' retrospective preference for extraction of asymptomatic third molars.

The purpose of this study was to determine the personal utility of asymptomatic third molar removal in military patients. From 1 to 30 days (mean = 7.4) after the extraction of one or more third molars, 100 returning patients (all male, mean age = 20.1) were asked to respond to hypothetical questions concerning the extraction of asymptomatic third molars. If the likelihood of third molars ever having to be removed was given as 10%, 50%, and 100%, then 45%, 61%, and 88% of responses, respectively, showed preference for immediate extraction. When respondents chose to delay treatment until there was a problem, no likelihood group would tolerate more than 2.77 additional days of post-extraction pain before changing their preference to immediate extraction. 87% of respondents preferred extractions prior to a deployment which would make treatment delivery difficult, and 89% prior to becoming a civilian at which time treatment might no longer be free. The results indicate general acceptance of the strategy of prophylactic third molar removal among a sample of military patients who have undergone pre-treatment counseling and the surgical procedure. A question remains as to the personal utility that might be measured prior to surgery.