Military dentists warn uncounted dental emergencies could strain wartime evacuation networks

The short version

• Army dental officials caution that war games regularly overlook dental emergencies, which could sideline personnel and burden evacuation systems during major warfare.[Business Insider]
• Historical records show dental issues made up 19 percent of frontline hospital care in Iraq and formed part of 16 percent of evacuations in operations against the Islamic State.[Business Insider]
• Dental providers report operational challenges, including broken field gear, supply constraints, and minimal deployment rates among specialized dental staff.[Business Insider]

Key facts

• Army dentists report that war games omit dental emergencies that could strain wartime casualty evacuation.[Business Insider]
• Dental emergencies accounted for 19 percent of all treatment at military hospitals near the front lines during the war in Iraq.[Business Insider]
• Dental disease and other non-battle injuries made up nearly 16 percent of all medical evacuations among troops fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.[Business Insider]
• According to Air Force Col. Anita Shade, less than 1 percent of that service's dentists deploy.[Business Insider]
• Broken field equipment and limited medical supplies have hindered training opportunities for some military dentists.[Business Insider]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• The US military is preparing for mass casualties in a major war. Its dentists say it's overlooking toothaches.Business Insider metered