The rate of dental emergencies in French armed forces deployed to Afghanistan

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to quantify the dental emergency (DE) rate observed in French soldiers serving in Afghanistan and (2) to determine the percentage of DEs that could have been prevented had predeployment treatment been provided. Methods: All DEs presenting at the French medical-surgical hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, were documented during the period of December 12, 2009 to February 6, 2010. Dental Officers documented (1) the etiology of each DE and (2) whether the DE could have been prevented with predeployment treatment. Results: An estimated rate of 293 DE per 1,000 personnel per year was observed, 78% of the 210 DEs were considered preventable, and 65% of patients required medical evacuation from their units. Conclusion: Previous studies have observed high DE rates for French Army personnel. The intensity, danger, and geography of the mission in Afghanistan exacerbate the negative operational impact of dental pathologies.