Occupational dentistry in the military: lessons for the NHS. Using dental risk to reduce emergencies, lost workdays and improve access

Occupational dentistry within the military aims to minimize dental disease nonbattle injuries (DDNBI) by standardizing dental risk and providing prevention or treatments accordingly. This article provides a brief history of military occupational dentistry and describes both past and present approaches to manage dental risk. The utility of risk application within civilian care is presented via the concept of an occupational dental risk stratification (ODRS) model, which prioritizes care via stratification of disease risk and its impact within the work environment. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The assessment of dental risk to effectively manage dental disease and reduce the risk of dental emergencies.