A Comparative Analysis of the US Coast Guard Dental Emergency Visits

This study indicates that oral surgery, restorative caries, prosthodontics, and endodontics account for the majority of DEs in the USCG. Service members with DRC 2 treatment needs in these categories, if left untreated, face a high risk of developing DEs within four months of their last dental visit. These findings suggest that these areas of dentistry require additional staffing, training, and resources to sustain mission readiness. Given the risk to both patient health and operational capability, DRC 3 status alone is not a reliable predictor of dental readiness.