RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the severity of oral/facial problems occurring in Navy and Marine Corps personnel deployed to Iraq. METHODS: Data documented by Navy Dental Officers deployed to Iraq were used to determine the number and type of oral/facial problems treated and to determine the percentages of severe, moderately severe, and pain/loss of function oral/facial problems treated in Iraq from March 2008 through February 2009. RESULTS: During the year of data collection, a total of 13,933 dental visits were documented for Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Of these, 1,641 were encounters to treat an oral/facial problem in Navy and Marine Corps personnel. In all, 37 (2.2%) of the 1,641 encounters for oral/facial problems were considered severe, 266 (16.2%) moderately severe, and 1,338 (81.5%) were for pain/loss of function. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of military personnel with oral/facial problems experience mild to moderate pain or loss of dental function, approximately 20% are of sufficient severity to cause the warfighter to experience a limitation of their operational capability.