Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research

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Dental problems continue to impair operational readiness and sustainability. Research has found that dental emergencies will afflict approximately 7-15% of operational forces (per annum). Given this, one important focus at the Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research is to examine the origins of dental emergencies, leading to increasingly sophisticated methods of risk assessment and prevention. Additionally, oral fluids are now recognized as providing tremendous opportunities for non-invasive and low-cost screening of medical conditions that affect military readiness (including TB, Dengue Fever, Cholera). Salivary diagnostic technologies are extremely promising for their applicability to field use and in screening large populations. Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research also provides science and technology leadership to the Navy regarding evolving public health and environmental concerns related to the operation of dental treatment facilities, both large and small.

Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research focuses its expertise in oral biology, epidemiology, and materials science to develop products and solutions addressing militarily relevant capabilities, including:

• Identification of predictive risk factors for dental disease and emergencies.
• Development of rapid, salivary diagnostic screening tests for infectious diseases and immunization status.
• Longitudinal assessment of dental treatment needs among active duty personnel.
• Evaluation and implementation of technologies enhancing the Navy's ability to operate large dental treatment facilities with minimal environmental and public health impact.
• Support independent duty corpsmen in treating dental emergencies through the development of materials and expert system software to facilitate shipboard and war-zone care.

Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research is strategically located on the Great Lakes Naval Training Center complex, home to 19 of the Navy's technical service schools and the only Naval Recruit Training Command. This unique location makes Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research the center of choice to study dental health needs of recruits, track them through service school, and continue monitoring as they transition to the fleet. For over 50 years, researchers at Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research have investigated problems related to oral health, disease, and injury and developed techniques and products to improve dental and medical care in the Navy. With the colocation of the Army Dental Research Detachment (1996) and the U.S. Air Force Dental Investigation Service (2000), the Institute is now the site for all DoD dental research.

Beyond the available military expertise, Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research is capitalizing on regional resources as researchers work cooperatively with other federal agencies, universities, and private industry. The Institute is located in the greater Chicago area with direct access to two dental schools, the American Dental Association, over 40 national dental organizations, six medical schools, two VA hospitals, and numerous scientific and industrial resources.