Dental emergencies during SFOR 8 in Bosnia

The purpose of this study was to report information regarding dental emergency rates, conditions that cause soldiers to present for care, and arrival patterns of dental emergency patients. Data came from a retrospective cohort analysis of dental emergencies experienced by the soldiers of the Third Infantry Division while deployed in the Multinational Division North area of Bosnia from September 2000 to March 2001. Defective restorations or caries accounted for 25% of the diagnoses prompting soldiers to report for dental sick call, third molar-related problems (pain or pericoronitis) were 19%, and periodontal conditions accounted for less than 5%. More aggressive treatment of unerupted or partially erupted third molars would appear to have the greatest potential for reducing the rate of emergencies.