Section III. STANDARD PROCEDURES
1-11. THE TEAM APPROACH: DUTIES OF THE DENTAL SPECIALIST
The dental specialist in the oral examination and diagnosis service performs
common duties applicable to all dental specialists. Because of the relationship of this
service to the reception office and to the radiographic service of the dental clinic, the
dental specialist works closely with and may even perform part of the duties in the
administration and management branch and radiographic sections. For these reasons,
the dental specialist must be familiar with the duties and functions of all these sections. In
addition, personnel in the oral examination and diagnosis service must consult frequently
with each professional service of the dental clinic and with diagnostic servi+ces of the
hospital. The dental specialist must be familiar with clinical and hospital routine to the
extent that maximum assistance is afforded in routine dealings with other sections and
services. These duties are related to the efficient functioning of the oral medicine and
treatment planning service itself. Organization of procedure is necessary to ensure that
emergency cases are seen first and that all patients are seen in an orderly, smooth-
flowing manner with minimum delay. Efficiency depends upon the establishment of
routines for recording examinations, handling records, maintaining a supply of sterile
instruments, obtaining radiographs, making appointments, and referring patients to other
services as indicated. The dental specialist should be sufficiently competent to relieve the
dental officer of all but strictly professional aspects of these routines.
1-12. ORAL EXAMINATIONS
a. Classification. Direct examination of the teeth and oral tissues is the
procedure used most in determining the status of oral health. Four classifications are
used to describe the dental health of active duty service members. Dental classifications
are described in more detail in AR 40-66, Medical Record and Quality Assurance
Administration.
Class 1. Personnel who require no dental treatment.
(1)
(2) Class 2. Personnel whose existing condition is unlikely to result in a
dental emergency within 12 months.
(3) Class 3. Personnel that require dental treatment to correct a dental
condition that is likely to cause a dental emergency within 12 months. Class 3 includes
patients who have deep caries, a fractured tooth, or pericoronitis (infection around a
wisdom tooth).
(4)
Class 4. Personnel who have missed two annual exams or whose status
is unknown.
MD0503
1-15