The Shortage of Dentists: A Risk to National Security?
Abstract
The United States military relies on dental readiness as a key component of a service members' medical readiness status. Excellent oral health is a force multiplier because the dental emergency rate diminishes when the oral health status of the force increases. In recent years the Army's dental accessions have dropped to all time lows and there are an insufficient number of dentists in the Corp to handle the current workload. At the present time there are sufficient numbers to accomplish the dental readiness mission. The threat of a national shortage of dentists is rising and the ratio of dentists to the general US population continues to decline as the population increases faster than new dentists enter the field. Factors contributing to a potential national dental care crisis and its effect on the dental readiness of the United States military are outlined in this paper. Specific areas considered are oral disease as it relates to the nation and by extension to the military mission to maintain dental readiness; delineation of the recruiting pool; and an analysis on why the military is unsuccessful in attracting and retaining dental officers. The discussion will include a number of recommendations and a conclusion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA481296
Entities
People
- Donn A. Grimes
Organizations
- United States Army War College