TERMINALOBJECTIVE: Be familiar with the subject matter and technical publications relating to emergency dental care and preventive medicine.

Because of the nature of our rating and the many responsibilities placed upon us, Hospital Corpsmen must have a general understanding of many areas of medicine. Emergency dental care and preventive medicine practices are two of those areas. Both of these subjects are extremely important, but because they are both already discussed in great detail in other Navy publications, this chapter will present only a brief overview of them. Emergency Dental Care is covered in Section I, and Preventive Medicine is addressed in Section II. For in-depth information, refer to the publications outlined respectively in table 10-1.

SECTION I
EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE
In the absence of a dental officer you, as the medical department representative (MDR), will be required to perform basic emergency dental first aid associated with the most common oral conditions and injuries. While this section will introduce you to the basics of dental anatomy and histology, dental terminology, oral diseases and injuries, and the dental record, you will find in-depth discussion of these areas in the DT and HMAdvancement Handbooks; chapter 6 of Dental Technician Training Manual, Volume 1, NAVEDTRA12572; and in chapter 6 of the Manual of the Medical Department, NAVMED P-117.

The primary function of this emergency dental care is to alleviate pain, arrest hemorrhage, or prevent further or complicating injury to dental structures. Ensuring that the entire crew is in good dental health before deployment will prevent most dental-related problems. Therefore, predeployment examinations are very important.

You must administer only emergency dental care. Refer routine cases to a dental treatment facility, and refer any cases treated by nondental personnel for follow-up at the earliest opportunity.

DENTAL ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY
To provide emergency dental care, you will need to be familiar with dental anatomy and histology. The following sections will provide you with basic information; however, if you require more detailed information on dental anatomy and histology, consult the Dental Technician Training Manual, Volume 1, NAVEDTRA 12572, or contact your local dental treatment facility for References.

Dental
DT Advancement Handbook HM Advancement Handbook Dental Technician Training Manual, Vol. 1, NAVEDTRA 12572

Dental Technician Training Manual, Vol. 2, NAVEDTRA 12573

Manual of the Medical Department, NAVMED P-117, chapter 6

Various BUMED notes and instructions
Various SECNAV and OPNAV notes and instructions

Preventive Medicine

HM Advancement Handbook Manual of Naval Preventive Medicine, NAVMED P-5010

Control of Communicable Diseases Manual,
NAVMED P-5038

Naval Supply Publication 486 Various BUMED notes and instructions Various SECNAV and OPNAV notes and instructions

Table 10-1.-Publication List

Dental Anatomy
The adult mouth normally has 32 permanent teeth. On board ship, you will usually be able to refer a patient to a dentist for a dental problem. When you do have to make such a referral, you must be able to correctly describe the problem and its location (e.g., which tooth, which surface of the tooth, etc.) in appropriate dental terminology. Because referrals are infrequent, this required information will not be covered here. However, the information is available in detail in the Dental Technician Training Manual, Volume 2, NAVEDTRA 12573.

Dental Histology
Dental anatomy deals with the external form and appearance of the teeth. Dental histology studies the tissues and internal structure of the teeth, along with the tissues that surround and support them. It will be helpful to have a knowledge of dental histology in case you need to provide emergency dental treatment.

Dental Terminology
Knowledge of dental terminology is important to interpret emergency treatment plans prepared by dentists and to prepare consultation sheets for referral to dental treatment facilities. Make sure you use standard dental abbreviations when recording entries in a patient's dental record. You will find some important basic dental-related words and definitions in the next section, "Oral Diseases and Injuries." Both the Dental Technician Training Manual Volume 2, NAVEDTRA 12573, and the Manual of the Medical Department, NAVMEDP-117, will provide you with a more in-depth listing of dental terminology.