A system for tracking dental readiness in the Air Force Reserve

The potential of dental emergencies to reduce combat effectiveness is a major concern of military planners. The dental fitness classification is teh primary measure of an airman's dental readiness. A dental class 3 identification means that the airman has a dental condition that is likely to cause a dental emergency within 12 months. With few exceptions, Air Force Reserve command units are using only nonstandardized, manual tracking systems to ensure that identified members get needed dental treatment completed in a timely manner. The reliability and effectiveness of this process has been questioned in recent years. The importance of accurately recording the dental class status and having a reliable means to track dental treatment compliance of members designated dental class 3 is essential to maintaining a high state of dental readiness. A computerized tracking system called the Reserve Dental Data System was designed and developed to address this problem.