Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category (a) 2 and (b) 3 on the basis they need dental care or treatment to achieve optimal dental fitness.

As at 1 March 2023 11,451 UK Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 2, and 10,687 UK Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 3.

For UK Defence Dentistry the NATO Dental Fitness Category is interpreted as follows:

NATO Dental Fitness Category 2

Service Personnel in date for Periodic Dental Inspection who require active interventive or operative dental treatment and whose existing dental condition, in the opinion of the clinician, is unlikely to result in a dental emergency within their defined recall period..

NATO Dental Fitness Category 3

Service personnel in date for Periodic Dental Inspection who require active interventive or operative dental treatment and whose dental condition is, in the opinion of the clinician, likely to cause a dental emergency within 12 months. It also includes those previously categorised as NATO Dental Fitness Category 2 who have gone beyond their recall date.

The Joint Medical Employment Standard (JMES) awarded by medical staff in order to inform commanders and career managers of the deployability and employability of Service personnel, will be reviewed if the Service person’s oral health status adversely affects their employability or overall health if deployed, or their oral care needs would be difficult to deliver in the deployed environment.

The Service person will be graded according to the frequency of the symptoms, requirement for medication and medical support, and degree of functional impairment.