שיעורי עזרה ראשונה דנטלית במהלך מבצע שובר גלים

Introduction: Operation Break the Wave was initiated during March 2022, resulting in a significant in flow of military forces into the territory protected by the Central Command. Goal and methods: Examine trends in the requirement for dental emergency treatment during this period of increase in soldier population in the Judea and Samaria area, followed by an increase in military and civilian trauma injuries. Methods: Data were retrieved from the computerized dental files, and prevalence of dental emergencies as recorded by dental practitioners was collected between March 2022 and March 2023 (operation Break the Wave) and compared with the same data collected in the preceding year. Data regarding the nature of the treatment performed were also collected (extraction, restoration etc.). Results: The overall prevalence of dental emergencies recorded by dental practitioners in the IDF and in Judea and Samaria was similar in both periods of time examined; however, an increase in dental emergencies was recorded in the central dental clinic. A twofold increase in the amount of dental trauma was demonstrated in the central dental clinic during the operation in comparison to the previous year. Conclusion: Increasing military forces did not necessarily increase dental emergency needs, since the intensive nature of the operation made it very challenging to get immediate dental treatment during Break the Wave. This effect may explain the increase in dental emergency treatment in the central dental clinic, since it is more likely to be attended on the way home or to the base.