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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 (NIDBR) 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. NIDBR 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.
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NIDBR focuses its expertise in oral biology,
epidemiology, and materials science to develop products and solutions addressing
militarily relevant capabilities, including:
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- 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.
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 NIDBR 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 NIDBR 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
NIDBR 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 collocation of the Army Dental Research Detachment (1996) and the
US Air Force Dental Investigation Service (2000), the Institute is now the site
for all DoD dental research.
Beyond the available military expertise, NIDBR 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.
| Research |
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Scientific
Investigations |
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- Non-invasive, rapid (5 minutes or less)
salivary tests are being developed (or envisioned) to detect
salivary antibodies to Tuberculosis, Dengue Fever, Cholera, and
a host of other communicable diseases.
- Analytical tests useful for the diagnosis
and treatment monitoring of certain oral diseases are being
developed and validated. Current tests utilize polyclonal
antibodies towards specific pathogens or reactions specific to
certain disease mechanisms.
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Biometrics and Public
Health Dentistry |
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- Evidence-based assessment tools are being
developed to help identify individuals at high risk for
experiencing acute dental problems.
- NIDBR continues to monitor the operational
impact of various types of dental emergencies and collect
longitudinal data related to the origin of certain emergency
categories.
- Multivariate statistical methods are being
applied to redefine dental readiness incorporating: (i)
demographic variables; (ii) evidence-based risk assessment
tools; (iii) dental health behaviors.
- The short- and long-term consequences of
sealant application and treatment prioritization are being
evaluated.
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Dental Support of
Forward Deployed Troops |
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- Refinement and field testing of a
software-based expert system (Advanced IDC Dental Triage
Informatics System) are being conducted.
- An interim treatment material, along with a
new delivery system, is being developed. This material will be
used by Independent Duty Corpsmen to ameliorate a wide variety
of urgent dental problems
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Environmental Issues |
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- Existing and emerging technologies for
removal of mercury from dental unit wastewater streams are being
developed and evaluated. NIDBR is the lead agent in this important Navy-wide
program.
- NIDBR is overseeing and coordinating the
design and installation of mercury abatement systems in all Navy
dental clinics worldwide.
- Technologies to remove biofilms from dental
unit water lines, or to prevent their formation, are being
evaluated.
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| Examples of
Accomplishments |
- Three oral diagnostic tests have been
patented by NIDBR and are now close to market entry via licensing
opportunities: (i) MUST-mutans streptococcal test; (ii) LBT-lactobacillus
test; (iii) PAT-protease activating test.
- Received grants from the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office to
design, install, and evaluate mercury pretreatment systems and
to educate dental professionals on the hazards of dental
mercury.
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- Designed, developed, and currently
maintains Dental Mercury Web Site: http://dentalmercury.com
- Two patents awarded to NIDBR for mercury
pretreatment systems.
- Designed and/or installed pretreatment
systems at six Navy dental treatment facilities.
- Selected as the expert agent to provide
mercury release controls to the Tri-Services Pentagon Dental
Clinic.
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| Examples of
Operational Support |
- Developed the DDS/DMD software to enable
computer-assisted diagnosis and treatment of dental conditions
by Independent Duty Corpsmen.
- Assisted U.S. Army in developing reduced
size and weight dental field equipment.
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