ADA says dental health is vital to military readiness.

"Dental disease today continues to have an impact on military personnel," Dr. James B. Bramson, ADA executive director, said in Senate testimony earlier this year. "A 2002 Department of Defense report found that 34 percent of military personnel on active duty required dental care prior to deployment. Having enough dentists to treat active duty personnel is vital to keeping soldiers healthy and ready."

The ADA called for an increase in the defense budget for scholarships to attract new dentist recruits to the military services and loan repayments to retain current dentists. The Association also recommended appropriations support for military dental research, dental care for returning troops and dental clinic construction.

By recent count, there were 3,126 dentists in the military services.

Source: www.ADA.org, Today's News, May 6, 2004.

Editor's Note: In the May/June 2004 issue of The Dental Assistant, the U.S. Army Dental Corps sponsored advertising seeking dental assistants. Presently, the ADAA serves over 2,000 Army dental assistants with educational materials, membership opportunities and recognition programs.