Meeting a disaster's medical surge demand: can dentists help?

No one can deny that these are extraordinary times in world affairs. This is true not because there is turmoil in the world, which tends to be the norm, but because the problems in the world are dominated not by countries or religions, but by individuals and radical sects for whom life seems far too expendable. It is a time for each of us to determine how to respond to help protect our families. It is also a time for dentists to assess how they should respond to meet the additional demands placed upon them by way of their professional licenses and underlying responsibility to society. This article frames a set of commitments that the profession should consider assuming. It is related from the perspective of an institution that has taken an active role in societal protection from before Sept. 11, 2001, to the present. The discussion includes a description of the nature of medical surge demand and why the dental profession is uniquely positioned to assist in meeting this demand. The skill set of the dentist is highlighted in terms of triage ability, a role in bio-surveillance, the capacity to calm the "worried well," and community responsiveness. In addition, concepts like shelter in place and the Medical Reserve Corps are explained, and valuable reference sources and websites are provided.