The experience of deployed dental teams on Operation Herrick: dentists at war in Afghanistan

Operation Herrick was the British military operation in Afghanistan that occurred between 2002 and 2014; the most recent, large-scale and publicly conducted war in British history. During this time, over 60 British military dental teams deployed as part of the UK Medical Group, their primary role being the treatment of dental emergencies in UK Armed Forces. There are numerous publications citing statistics regarding the rates and nature of dental casualties on operations, their management and how this affects operational capability. This article instead aims to give a more generalised insight into the lived experience of an Army dentist deployed on Operation Herrick.