Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook

5-9

Chapter 10: Dentistry

LTC David DuBois, DC, USA

I. General Information

1. ANATOMY
   a. A tooth has two major parts: the crown, normally visible in the mouth, and the root or roots embedded
   in the socket and partially covered by soft tissue (Figure 5-1).
   b. The crown has five surfaces: the occlusal (biting) surface, the lingual or tongue side surface, the facial
   (buccal) or cheek side surface, and the two surfaces that come in contact with adjacent teeth (mesial-
   the contacting surface nearest the midline and distal- the farthest from the midline) (Figure 5-2).


2. SUGGESTED MINIMAL DENTAL KIT FOR THE FIELD

Surgery:
1 each: Tooth extraction forceps #150 - universal maxillary forceps
1 each: Tooth extraction forceps #151 - universal mandibular forceps
1 each: Tooth extraction forceps #17- mandibular “cowhorn” forceps
1 each: Tooth extraction forceps #53R and #53L- maxillary “cowhorn” forceps
2 each: Periosteal elevator - Woodson #1 and Molt #9
2 each: Straight elevator - #301 (small) and #34 (large)
5 each: #15 Scalpel blades
1 each: Bard Parker blade handle
5 each: 4-0 Chromic gut sutures
5 each: 4-0 Silk sutures
2 each: Dental aspirating syringe
50 each: 27 gauge dental needle
25 each: .5% bupivacaine (Marcaine) with 1/200,000 epinephrine anesthetic 1.8 ml carpule
10 each: 3% mepivacaine (Carbocaine) without epinephrine anesthetic 1.8 ml carpule
15 each: 2% lidocaine (Xylocaine) with 1/100,000 epinephrine anesthetic 1.8 ml carpule
1 each: Topical benzocaine 20%
Operative/General Dentistry:
2 each: Explorer #23
2 each: Periodontal probe
2 each: Spoon excavator
2 each: Dental spatula
2 each: Plugger, plastic filling, dental-Woodson #2
1each: Intermediate restorative material (IRM)
1 each: Glass ionomer (Ketac-fil, or Fuji IX-GP)
1 each: Cavity varnish (Copalite)
1 each: Calcium hydroxide (Dycal)
20 each: Cotton rolls and cotton gauze
1 each: mixing pad; parchment paper, dental

II. Oral and Dental Problems

1. TOOTHACHES
   Toothaches are usually associated with one of the following: caries (decay); fractures of tooth, crown, or root;
   or acute periapical (root end) abscess. All tooth surfaces may be affected by dental decay.