Dental emergency visits of Marine Corps personnel

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and distribution of dental emergencies in Marine Corps personnel. Dental emergencies were recorded from June 1989 to June 1990 for personnel who were in garrison, deployed, or participating in field exercises. A standardized data-collection form was distributed to participating Marine Corps dental clinics and to dental officers assigned to Marine Corps deployments or field exercises. A total of 890 dental emergency visits by Marines were recorded: 699 for Marines while in garrison, 136 while deployed, and 55 while participating in field exercises. Tooth/restoration fracture without pulpal involvement and pericoronitis were the most frequent diagnoses at emergency visits in each of the three environments. The mean incidence rate of dental emergencies per 1,000 person-years for deployed Marine Corps personnel was 57.2.