1. A Longitudinal Study of DoD Dental Readiness Classification of 1994 DoD Recruits
Col (Sel) Gary “Chad” Martin, USAF, DC
CAPT Andrew K. York, DC, USN
LTC David L. Moss, DC, USA
TSgt Tracy Put, USAF
Tri-Service Center for Oral Health Studies
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

2. Background
1994 Tri-Service Comprehensive Oral Health Survey of Recruits
Random sample of 2,711 recruits
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps
Represents 101,072 recruits for first half of 1994
Findings reported in June 1995 NDRI Report No. PR-9502

3. Dental Readiness Classification
Class 1- (Oral Health) Patients with current exam, no treatment or reevaluation required
Worldwide deployable
Class 2- Patients with current exam, require non-urgent dental treatment or reevaluation for conditions which are unlikely to result in dental emergencies within 12 months
Class 3- Patients with conditions that if not treated are expected to result in dental emergencies within 12 months -Not worldwide deployable
Class 4- Patients who require dental exam or have unknown dental class -Not worldwide deployable

4. Objectives
The purpose of this longitudinal study was to determine the changes in dental readiness class of the 1994 recruits over a four-year period of time
Almost half of the recruits began their military service in dental class 3
Class 1 – 0.7%
Class 2 – 50.2%
Class 3 – 49.1%

5. Methods
In 1998 the dental records of 1,331 of the original 2,711 recruits were located
Dental officers from TSCOHS extracted information from the records
A retrospective study of these individuals’ oral health status from was conducted
Statistical analyses performed using SPSS 10.0 ®

6. Sample Demographics Female 26.7 Male 73.3 Female 26.0 Male 74.0
Gender %
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Other
White
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Other
White
Race %
20.4 years
20.1 years
Age (mean)
No = 1,380
Yes = 1,331
Record Reviewed

7. Sample Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs
2.2
PSR Score (Mean)
0.12
0.08
Endodontic (Mean)
1.70
1.66
Extractions (Mean)
3.56
3.66
Oper Teeth (Mean)
No = 1,380
Yes = 1,331
Record Reviewed
Readiness Class %
Class
Class
Class
Class
Class
Class

8. Mean Months of Observation (among recruits who served more than 12 months)

9. Percentage of 1994 Recruits
Percentage of 1994 Recruits* Who Achieved Class 1 Status During Their First 4 Years of Military Service
92.3
86.7
66.6
59.3
63.4
64.0
58.4
53.8
52.6
41.7
* Excluding recruits who served less than 12 months

10. Percentage of 1994 Class 2 and Class 3 Recruits Who Achieved Class 1 Status During Their First 4 Years of Military Service
95.8
90.2
91.0
81.0
71.9
71.8
67.2
64.1
69.0
63.9
61.4
60.6
56.3
53.4
44.8
51.1
49.8
46.4
42.5
28.0
* Excluding recruits who served less than 12 months

11. Mean Number of Months Before Becoming Class 1 (among recruits who became class 1 at some point)
23.8
17.6
15.2
13.0
16.5
18.1
13.3
16.9
17.5
21.5

12. Mean Number of Months Recruits. Remained Class 1
Mean Number of Months Recruits* Remained Class 1** (After First Incident of Becoming Class 1)
* Excluding recruits with less than 13 months of observation after becoming Class 1
** Class 1 recruits examined and found to need only a dental cleaning remained Class 1
18.0
21.2
17.6
23.1
20.4
18.9
20.7
18.6

13. Percentage of Time Spent in Each Dental Classification (mean months in each class/mean months of observation)
* Excluding recruits who served less than 12 months

14. Recruit. Class 1 Conversion Percentages
Recruit* Class 1 Conversion Percentages** (among those who became class 1 at some point)
* Excluding recruits with less than 13 months of observation after becoming Class 1
** Class 1 recruits examined and found to need only a dental cleaning remained Class 1

15. Recruit. Class 1 Conversion Percentages
Recruit* Class 1 Conversion Percentages** (among those who became class 1 at some point)
* Excluding recruits with less than 13 months of observation after becoming Class 1
** Class 1 recruits examined and found to need only a dental cleaning remained Class 1

16. Recruit. Class 1 Conversion Percentages
Recruit* Class 1 Conversion Percentages** (among those who became class 1 at some point)
* Excluding recruits with less than 13 months of observation after becoming Class 1
** Class 1 recruits examined and found to need only a dental cleaning remained Class 1