Page 12 - RADC Bulletin 2021

Forces News Interview
A brief breakdown of statistics and treatments can be found in the table below with all sites showing a significant rise in the CAT 1 percentage and a decrease in the TNI.
Table showing the improvement in dental fitness provided by the DRPT
DRPT RMAS
36 RADC personnel to work in a deployed environment providing significant training value for the future.
A key outcome was the development of protocols to use ModNet laptops and digital radiography in the deployed environment which now allows live access to DMICP and the capture of digital dental radiographs, something which was not possible previously.
Although summarised in this article for ease of reading, the staffing effort required to develop this concept and deliver it was significant. The importance of having experienced RADC personnel with staff experience is vital to enable progression of our dental capability now and in the future and without the support and canvasing of the senior Army leadership by our Chief Dental Officer (Army), this would not have been feasible.
A summary of the benefits are.
Improved Dental Fitness
of deploying units
Units deploying imminently were assessed and treated to significantly decrease their dental risk. This could not have occurred without the DRPT.
Training value
36 RADC personnel are now trained and experienced with the deployed dental equipment in an arduous deployed setting allowing utility for future operations. This benefit was immediately realised with the deployment of Capt Trinick to Kenya who was tasked whilst on the RMAS DRPT.
Live DMICP and digital radiography
The ability to access live DMICP and capture digital radiographs directly onto a patient’s Individual Health Record (IHR) was revolutionary in allowing the DRPT to be
used. Previously this wasn’t an option in the deployed setting which limited the treatment that could be safely provided.
Patient feedback
1437 Service Personnel have been treated in the DRPT with excellent feedback. This raises the profile of the RADC within the Army and wider Military. It is also evidence of the positive reception to deployed dental care.
Media coverage
The DRPT has been widely covered in the media showing a wider audience the utility the RADC have as an asset for the Army.
Dental Doctrine
The DRPT capability has been placed into doctrine to ensure it can be used in the future when required.
Utility of the DRPT
Deployment of the DRPT has proven how useful it can whilst operating in tents and hardstanding infrastructure. The equipment has also been tested to ensure it can withstand the deployed environment.
Greater volume of AGPs
The use of tents has allowed a decrease
in fallow periods due to more efficient air exchange which has increased the number of AGPs which can be undertaken in a clinical session.
New protocols for deployed
dentistry
The concentrated use of the DRPT has allowed for new protocols to be written for deployed dentistry which are integrated into RADC doctrine and will influence dental capability in future operations.
The DRPT has been a great success for the Army and the RADC having been taken from an initial idea and developed into a new capability to deliver significant results
in support of DPHC(D) and for the benefit
of our patients. The DRPT has proven to be an adaptable, agile and flexible capability alongside the robustness of RADC personnel which has provided significant benefits and driven forward deployed dentistry. The DRPT is now written into doctrine so that it can
be used in the future when the requirement is present and will provide comprehensive support for deployments and operations. This article highlights the utility that comes from having RADC staff trained Dental Officers intrinsic to the organisation to deliver excellent results from good ideas.
Unit
Increase in CAT1
Final Cat 1
Decrease in TNI
Final TNI
1LANCS 17% 3SCOTS 28% 2MERC 6%
89% 375 325
1RIRISH
14%
83%
274
363
91% 594
84% 143 358
148
RMAS
12%
71%
276
305
3MED
26%
78%
182
330
A wide variety of treatments were undertaken on patients ranging from Periodic Dental Inspections (PDIs) to Root Canal Treatments (RCTs). If possible more complex treatments were undertaken
in the Firmbase Dental Centre however
the DRPT proved the ability to provide these treatments in deployed conditions showing its use over and above previous expectations. A breakdown of the types
and number of treatments in relation to the duration of the deployment are shown in the table below.
Benefits of the DRPT
There are numerous benefits which the DRPT has provided the Army, RADC and our patients. The DRPT has shown the utility of the RADC to provide flexible deployed dental service provision at short notice and provided RADC personnel the opportunity to prove the advantages of a deployable uniformed dental service. The exceptional patient feedback has shown how impressed and grateful patients were for the treatment that was provided and it will improve the reception of dental care on operations in
the future. It was a valuable opportunity for
LOCATION
PDI
IDI
RCT
CONS
XLA
PAIN
TOTAL PATIENTS
CLINICAL WEEKS
CHESTER FORT GEORGE WEETON
13 0 2 72 3 6 96 2.5 54 0 16 167 12 5 254 4 304 2 12 183 25 12 538 6
Table showing breakdown of the number of treatments provided by the DRPT
TERN HILL
3
0
9
86
1
0
99
2
RMAS
68
184
0
197
0
1
450
5.5
TOTAL
442
186
39
705
41
24
1437
20
10 RADC BULLETIN 2021
DEVELOPMENT