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HIARNG Dental

1 in 5 reported non-battlefield injuries on deployment are dental related issues.

Proper oral hygiene is important for service members because dental neglect can cause:

  • Decline in duty performance, lack of concentration, work loss, restricted activity, difficulty eating, trouble speaking correctly, ifdficulty sleeping, unbearable pain

All these results will negatively impact a unit’s mission and capabilities.

Oral health does not only impact the mouth. It can lead to other chronic health issues that can take SMs out of the fight. These include cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Ways to improve your oral health include:

  • Brush with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, twice a day.
  • Clean between teeth daily by flossing.
  • Visit your dentist at least twice a year. (Once a year is the military standard)
  • Avoid smoking, vaping, and e-cigarettes.
  • Avoid refined sugars in sweets, candy, and energy drinks.
  • Maintain a healthy diet. Include fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy such as cheese and yogurt, and lean protein such as chicken and fish into your meals.
  • Drink water

Dental Readiness Classification

A Dental Readiness Classification (DRC) is given to all service members based on what their current dental status is and their readiness to deploy.

There are four categories of DRC. These categories are as follows:

DRC 1

Service member has a current dental exam and doesn’t require any additional treatment or re-evaluation.

DRC 1 is ready to deploy.

DRC 2

Service member has a current dental exam and requires non-urgent dental treatment or re-evaluation for oral conditions which are unlikely to result in a dental emergency within one year.

Treatment Includes: Dental cleanings, periodontal maintenance, treatment for minor cavities or minor fractured teeth, active orthodontic treatment, temporomandibular disorders in remission.

DRC 2 is ready to deploy.

DRC 3

Service member requires urgent or emergency dental treatment. The Service member is more likely to experience a dental emergency within one year.

Treatment Includes: Moderate to large cavities or tooth fractures, fractured fillings that cannot be maintained by patient, uncontrolled gum disease, abscessed teeth, teeth that require root canals, lesions requiring biopsy.

DRC 3 is NOT ready to deploy.

DRC 4

Service member is delinquent and requires dental exam or the dental classification status is unknown.

DRC 4 is NOT ready to deploy.

Here are some examples of tooth conditions that categorize you as DRC3:

  • A large cavity that requires a filling.
  • A medium to large size broken filling or tooth.
  • A tooth with pain or an abscess that requires a root canal procedure. A tooth needing a root canal will also be DRC3 for a filling as well.
  • A tooth that cannot be saved because it is too far broken down and requires to be extracted.
  • Moderate to severe gum disease causing loose teeth that require extraction or a deep cleaning.

DRC3 is resolved once all treatment is completed. This includes having the cavities filled, fractured fillings replaced, moderate to severe gum disease treated with scaling, root canals completed, bad teeth extracted, and lesions biopsied and proven to be harmless.

Make an appointment with your civilian dentist to get the specific work that you need done. Upon completion, have your dentist sign a DD2813 form to indicate that the critical DRC 3 work had been completed. Please note that all work does not need to be completed, just the DRC 3 work.

During the annual periodic health assessments HIARNG dentists will identify any issues they see, and a dental tech will input the status into the MEDCHART system that reports to MEDPROS.

During the Periodic Health Assessments, you will see a HIARNG Care Coordinator (a civilian contractor) to take care of the dental issue and become deployable! They will 1) guide you through the insurance and financial aspect of care and 2) provide you with the paperwork needed to clear. They also have the HIARNG State Dental Officer to help navigate you through care.

It is the job of the service member to schedule an appointment with their dental provider, to get dental issue taken care of to remain in a deployable DRC.

How to Pay for Dental Care?

For a Guardsmen, the responsibility of finding and paying for care is up to the Guardsmen him/herself. Healthcare is always a cash business. If the service member has access to their own personal dental insurance, they are highly encouraged to use it.

What If I don’t have insurance?

In some instances, a service member may not have access to dental insurance, either by having an employer who doesn’t offer it or possibly not having civilian employment at all. There are a few alternatives:

Hawaii Quest (Medicaid Fee-For-Service Program)

This is a “safety net” dental coverage for those who fall below a certain income threshold. Proof of income to qualify is necessary to enroll. Dental services are provided by dentists who are enrolled to see Medicaid patients. You can call the Community Case Management Corp to find a dentist who accepts Medicaid:

  • Oʻahu: 808-792-1070
  • Neighbor Islands: 1-888-792-1070 toll-free

If you’re age 21 or older, effective 1/1/2023, your coverage includes:

  • Preventative Services
  • Diagnostic and Radiology Services
  • Endodontic Therapy Services
  • Restorative Services
  • Oral Surgery
  • Periodontal Therapy Services
  • Prosthodontic Services
  • Emergency and Palliative Treatment

To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Hawaii and meet all the following:

  • Either 18 years of age and under or a primary care giver with a child(ren) 18 years of age and under.
  • A U.S. Citizen, National, or a Non-Citizen legally admitted into the U.S.
  • Uninsured (and ineligible for Medicaid).
Apply

Private Insurance (through civilian employer or family member)

Please contact your private insurance provider to understand what is covered. If a service member has private dental insurance, this is the first method they should use to cover dental expenses.

TRICARE Reserve Select – TRICARE Dental Program

National Guard members qualify for the Tricare Dental Program under Tricare Reserve Select. This dental program is done through United Concordia. This is similar to having dental insurance through a civilian employer. Enrollment can be done online, phone or through the mail. The current approximate cost is $15/month that comes out of your drill pay for $1500 in coverage/year.

Online:

  • Go to https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/
  • Click “Log On” at the top of page.
  • A Department of Defense Self-Service Login (DS Login) or Common Access Card (CAC) is needed.
  • Select the “Dental” tab to enroll in a dental plan.

Phone:

  • CONUS: 844-653-4061
  • OCONUS: 844-653-4060
  • OCONUS Toll: 717-888-7400

Mail:

Dental Vouchers

If HIARNG funding allows, a service member may be issued a treatment voucher that will 100% cover the required treatment. This option is reserved for service members who have no dental insurance at all. Ask your Care Coordinator about this.