title: Dental survey on soldiers of an infantry battalion of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at the time of completion of national service.
abstract: A three-part survey on 20-year-old national servicemen was conducted just before they left the army to determine their dental history and residual dental disease after two years of military service. The findings highlighted caries as a major cause of dental discomfort for which treatment was obtained. The impacted lower third molar was also a common cause of pain. The pattern of tooth loss showed that the lower first molar and the upper incisors were the teeth most frequently lost through caries. The findings reinforce the perception of the dental patient as being not the best person to appreciate his own dental needs and to do something positive about them.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014098:Toothache