Executive Agencies

The US military dental science and technology research laboratories, the US Army Dental Research Detachment (USADRD) and the Naval Dental Research Institute (NDRI), focus on R&D of new technologies that reduce lost duty time caused by dental disease or trauma in military populations. As mandated by the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Act, USADRD and NDRI are collocated at Great Lakes, Illinois. Areas of research emphasis include methods to reduce disease causing dental plaque in conjunction with military rations; epidemiology of dental disease and trauma; rapid diagnostic aids; field-expedient preventive technologies; smaller, lighter and less energy-consuming dental field equipment and sterilization; environment-insensitive dental materials; disposal of mercury contaminated water in deployed situations; and technologies to reduce the morbidity and mortality of oral & maxillofacial trauma, especially through the use of lightweight personal armor.