Misiones de la Sanidad Militar, Especialidad fundamental odontología. Propuesta de empleo / Missions of Military Health Service. Essential branch Dentistry. Employment Proposal

En base a las necesidades operativas, se pretende hacer una revisión de las misiones de la odontología militar. Desde el punto de vista militar, la salud oral tiene unas consideraciones y unas repercusiones que le son propias. La odontología como parte integrante de la Sanidad Militar tiene como misiones conservar, recuperar, y seleccionar dentro del campo de su especialidad fundamental. Las funciones que desarrolla son: jurídico/pericial, preventiva, asistencial, formativa/docente y de investigación. Aun estando todas siempre presentes, adquieren una importancia variable según el escalón de apoyo logístico y las condiciones del despliegue, antes, durante o después. Se presentan unas conclusiones finales (AU)

A review of the odontology task is wanted to do based on operational needs. From the military point of view, the oral health has its own considerations and repercussions. The Dental Military Service (part of the military health), is responsable of the mantenance, treatment and selection within the field of his fundamental specialty. It is needed to perform the next functions: legal / expert, prevention, care, training / teaching and research. Theses functions, are always present, and have their own importance by logistical step and the deployment status, before, during or after. It is drawn some conclusion (AU)

[About improvement of outpatient dental health service for young serviceman].

The article gives a detailed account of results of epidemiological survey of dental morbidity in young serviceman and different types of outpatient dental health service needs. Medical norms for dispensary supply with all types of outpatient dental health service for young servicemen are estimated. Suggestions for improvement of organizational and staff structure of dental office of medical company are formulated.

[Improvement of outpatient dental care in the military district].

The paper presents proposals for improving outpatient dental care in the military area. To improve all types of outpatient dental care it is encouraged to use mobile multi-purpose field dental system based on chassis KamAZ, versatile portable dental kit. The construction kit has a modular design that supports rapid deployment of the dental office. For its operation is designed dental kit, which includes modern dental materials, instruments and medicines. Equipping the army medical service data development will help to improve outpatient dental care in the Army.

La odontología legal en el Ejército español / The legal Odontology in the spanish armed forces

Desde el punto de vista militar, la salud oral tiene unas consideraciones y unas repercusiones que le son propias. Para estudiar las características que le hacen singular, se ha revisado el marco legislativo vigente. Se inicia con el concepto de «aptitud para el ingreso en las Fuerzas Armadas», se continúa con los de «aptitud psicofísica» desde un punto de vista general y también en situaciones especiales como: buceo, submarinos, vuelo y paracaidismos con apertura automática. Se contemplan las indemnizaciones en las lesiones en acto de servicio y en un punto aparte se expone el aspecto odontológico del concepto de sanitariamente disponible para el despliegue / sanitariamente desplegable. Se termina con la identificación dental y con la asistencia odontológica propiamente dicha. Se presentan unas conclusiones sobre la odontología militar y unas consideraciones sobre el perfil del odontólogo- estomatólogo militar (AU)

From the military point of view, the oral health has its own considerations and repercussions. To study its features, we review the legal aspect of the dental profession. We start with the concepts «Fit for admision to the military service» afterwards we continued with «mental and physical fitness» and fit in special circumstances such as: diving, submarine, flight and parachuting automatic opening. We make a remark about compensation for active service injures, and on another point we analyze the odontology aspect of «medical readiness / medically ready to deploy». We finish up with the dental identification and the dental care. We express some conclusions about the military odontology and some considerations about the professional profile of the military dentist (AU)

Innovations in military handling of facial trauma.

As the military medical treatment facilities of Operation Iraqi Freedom have transitioned from make-shift tent facilities to more formal fixed facilities, the capability to deliver more complex care has markedly improved. Using case presentations, the authors illustrate the integration of advances in surgical technology in managing complex and devastating craniofacial trauma at the 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006.

Development and testing of a novel forward-deployable dental dressing.

The purpose of this study was to measure select properties of four temporary filling materials suitable for use in treating minor dental emergencies in the field. Specimens were made of each of the following four materials: intermediate restorative material, Fuji IX GP Fast, Ketac-Molar Quick, and the forward-deployable dental dressing recently developed by the Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research. Twenty-fours hours after specimen fabrication, five properties (hardness, compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus) were measured for each of the materials and compared using analysis of variance and Tukey-Kramer tests to determine whether significant differences existed among the materials (alpha = 0.05). Data analysis revealed that significant differences existed among the products for all of the properties tested. The forward-deployable dental dressing's properties compared favorable with and, in many cases exceeded those of intermediate restorative material, Fuji IX GP Fast, and Ketac-Molar Aplicap Quick.

Emergencias orales en los militares españoles desplegados en Bosnia Herzegovina: Incidencias durante 9 semanas (2000-2001) / Oral emergencies in the Spanish military unfolded in Bosnia Herzegovina. Incidences during 9 weeks (2000-2001)

Se presenta la incidencia y distribución de las causas de emergencias dentales en los militares españoles desplegados en Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH). Definimos emergencia oral como las circunstancias que hacen que el soldado se ausente de su servicio o de su tiempo libre por una causa oral. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo longitudinal. El número de soldados españoles desplegados en BiH en la última semana del año 2000 y las primeras 8 semanas del año 2001 fue de 1063, y fueron tratados en el 2º escalón de Mostar-Aeropuerto, primer nivel de asistencia odontológica. En esos momentos en las exploraciones previas al despliegue no se clasificaba al contingente por su estado de salud oral. La tasa de incidencia fue de 304 asistencias/ 1000 personas/ año. Estas se distribuyeron de la siguiente forma: 39,3% por caries y restauraciones defectuosas, pulpitis y patología periapical 16,1%, gingivitis y periodontitis 16,1%, pericoronaritis 5,36%, complicaciones de exodoncias 1,79%, traumatismos 1,79%, fracturas dentales (sin trauma) 3,57%, lesiones de las mucosas 1,79%, dolor oro facial/ síntomas ATM 3,57%, causas protésicas 3,57%, hiper oclusión, trauma oclusal 5,36%. De estas emergencias el 57% podrían haberse evitado con un diagnostico y tratamiento oportuno previo. Por ello las estrategias de prevención son la clave, para poder en un futuro desplegar en situación de aptitud dental (AU)

This study reports about dental emergency rates and cause distribution of Spanish military troops deployed in Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH). Oral emergency is defined as those circumstances that force soldiers away from their duties or free time due to oral problems. This is a descriptive longitudinal analysis of incidences. The number of Spanish soldiers deployed in BiH in the last weeks of 2000 and the first 8 weeks of the 2001 were 1063. The soldiers received oral care at the 2nd echelon posted in Mostar-Airport, the first level of dental assistance. At the time, and before deployment, the military personnel were examined but not classified according to their oral health status. The incidence rate was of 304 attendances per 1000 military personnel per year. The distribution was as follows: 39.3% presented defective restorations or caries, pulpitis and periapical pathology 16.1%, gingivitis and periodontitis 16.1%, pericoronaritis 5.36%, post extraction related complications 1.79%, traumatisms 1.79%, fractured teeth (without trauma) 3.57%, oral pathology 1.79%, oro-facial pain / TMJ symptoms 3.57%, prosthodontics 3.57%, hyper occlusion and occlusal trauma 5.36%. From these emergencies it was concluded that 57% could have been prevented with proper previous diagnosis and treatment. For this reason prevention strategies are the key to deploying a dentally fit unit in the future (AU)

Use of direct digital radiography at remote dental facilities.

Digital radiography is changing the practice of dentistry today. This technology offers many advantages compared with conventional radiographic techniques. These advantages include faster imaging times, elimination of conventional dental film/chemicals and processing equipment, reduced radiation exposure, the ability to enhance images, and digitization of images for storage and electronic transfer. The U.S. Air Force Dental Corps completed an evaluation of digital radiography to assess its potential use by deployed units in the field. The Schick Computed Dental Radiography Kit was selected for testing and sent to two remote sites in Saudi Arabia for analysis. After completion of a 6-month evaluation, this system was rated favorably by the evaluators and was determined to be an excellent alternative for field-use radiography. As a result of this study, digital radiography is now being integrated in all expeditionary medical support units for future field deployments.

Designing a standardized oral health survey for the tri-services.

To address a Congressional directive for a comprehensive study of the military medical care system (including dental care), the Tri-Service Dental Chiefs convened a panel of dental epidemiologists to develop a standardized protocol for assessing the oral health of soldiers, sailors, and airmen. This paper discusses previous military and civilian oral health surveys and outlines key design features of the common military protocol that evolved from this critical review of the literature.

Prosthodontic treatment activities in the Canadian Forces Dental Services.

Prosthetic treatment activities and dental laboratory support are profiled to characterize the influence that a structured, publicly funded military program has on the delivery and practice of prosthetic dentistry. Changing oral health trends and advances in techniques and materials have had quantitative and qualitative impacts on the practice of prosthodontics in the Canadian Forces Dental Services over the past 25 years.

Formula for success: the role of the MSC officer and the U.S. Army dental care system.

The Army dental care system has seen significant improvements since the Dental Reform Bill of 1977-1978. This bill initiated changes that improved the management and the productivity of the dental care system. Among the many improvements initiated by these reforms was the addition of a Medical Service Corps (MSC) officer as the executive officer. This has been most noteworthy in the successful management of Dental Activities (DENTAC) and Area Dental Labs on Army installations. The job of DENTAC executive officer has become very prestigious and one of the best assignments an MSC officer can receive during his military career. The alliance between the Dental Corps and the MSC officer has been highly successful and rewarding to both parties. The object of this paper is threefold: (a) to review how the dental organization operated before the Reform Bill; (b) to discuss the present role of the dental Executive Officer; and (c) to provide recommendations for the future role of the MSC officer within the Dental Corps.