The US military is preparing for mass casualties in a major war. Its dentists say it's overlooking toothaches.
Army dentists warn toothaches and infections could sideline troops and strain evacuation systems in a future large-scale war.
US Army dentists warn that dental emergencies could strain military casualty evacuation efforts in future conflicts, as they are often overlooked in war games. These seemingly minor issues, such as toothaches and oral infections, can render soldiers non-mission-capable due to pain affecting their ability to eat, think clearly, and carry out tasks.
Dental emergencies accounted for 19% of all treatments at military hospitals near the front lines during the Iraq war, and nearly 16% of medical evacuations among troops fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Forward dental teams can quickly treat patients and return them to duty, but without dental care close to the front, soldiers may have to travel farther for treatment, potentially removing them from duty for up to a week.
Dental emergencies could rank among the top five most common reasons for casualty evacuation in large-scale combat, according to Army dentist Lt. Col. Jesse Thietten. Dental care is a low-hanging-fruit solution for addressing the anticipated systemic medical overload in future conflicts. However, broken field equipment and a lack of medical supplies continue to hinder training opportunities for dental teams.
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