A system for tracking dental readiness in the Air Force Reserve.

The potential of dental emergencies to reduce combat effectiveness is a major concern of military planners. The dental fitness classification is the primary measure of an airman's dental readiness. A dental class 3 identification means that the airman has a dental condition that is likely to cause a dental emergency within 12 months. With few exceptions, Air Force Reserve command units are using only nonstandard-ized, manual tracking systems to ensure that identified members get needed dental treatment completed in a timely manner. The reliability and effectiveness of this process has been questioned in recent years. The importance of accurately recording the dental class status and having a reliable means to track dental treatment compliance of members designated dental class 3 is essential to maintaining a high state of dental readiness. A computerized tracking system called the Reserve Dental Data System was designed and developed to address this problem.