title: The incidence of dental disease nonbattle injuries in deployed U.S. Army personnel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the past, the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG) have exhibited lower levels of medical and dental readiness than active duty (AD) Soldiers when activated for deployment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to compare dental disease and nonbattle injury (D-DNBI) incidence rates and describe the most common D-DNBI diagnoses in Army AD, ARNG, and USAR Soldiers deployed to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn) and Afghanistan or Kuwait (Operation Enduring Freedom).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Center for AMEDD Strategic Studies (CASS) were used to determine D-DNBI encounter rates and diagnoses for deployed Army Soldiers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  "Dental Caries" was the leading diagnosis (10.00%) for Soldiers in both theaters. For Operation Iraqi Freedom, D-DNBI rates were highest in 2010 at 144.05 per 1,000 Soldiers per year (AD 135.77, ARNG 151.39 and USAR 183.76). In comparison, D-DNBI rates in Operation Enduring Freedom were highest in 2012 with an overall rate of 85.77 per 1,000 Soldiers per year (AD 72.48, ARNG 129.38 and USAR 129.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In both campaigns, the data suggest that ARNG and USAR Soldiers had higher D-DNBI rates when compared to AD Soldiers. Further investigation is needed to decrease D-DNBI rates and to determine risk factors that may influence D-DNBI rates among Army components during deployments.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, 3650 Chambers Pass, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Simecek
authors.affiliation: Dental and Trauma Research Detachment, Institute of Surgical Research, 3650 Chambers Pass, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colthirst
authors.affiliation: Center for AMEDD Strategic Studies, 2478 Stanley Road, Suite 47, ATTN: MCCS-FH, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Wojcik
authors.affiliation: Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School, 3599 Winfield Scott Road, Suite 600, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eikenberg
authors.affiliation: Center for AMEDD Strategic Studies, 2478 Stanley Road, Suite 47, ATTN: MCCS-FH, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Alicia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Center for AMEDD Strategic Studies, 2478 Stanley Road, Suite 47, ATTN: MCCS-FH, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fedorowicz
authors.affiliation: Center for AMEDD Strategic Studies, 2478 Stanley Road, Suite 47, ATTN: MCCS-FH, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Wioletta
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Szeszel-Fedorowicz
authors.affiliation: Dental and Trauma Research Detachment, Institute of Surgical Research, 3650 Chambers Pass, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: DeNicolo
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology