Dental emergencies among Marines ashore in Operations Desert Shield/Storm

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of dental emergency visits for Marine Corps personnel ashore during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. We investigated the period of August 18, 1990, through April 19, 1991, during which 16 dental treatment facilities treated 4,776 dental emergencies in Marine Corps personnel. All dental treatment facilities maintained log books of dental treatment rendered, from which data were obtained. For the 35 weeks, a rate of 100.5 emergencies/1,000 Marines was calculated. The range, on a per week basis, was 1.4 to 4.6 emergencies/1,000 Marines. Caries, defective restorations, and endodontic complaints accounted for 54.3% of emergency visits.