Military Medicine (08/18/25) Cloetta, Catherine; Ryan, Joseph Brett; Senn, William; et al.

A survey of continuing education (CE) content interests for general dentists in the U.S. military identified emerging technology, oral pathology, and digital dentistry as the topics of highest interest. The 20-question online survey - promoted to active duty general dentists in the Army, Navy, and Air Force in March-July 2024 - asked about demographics, CE content preferences, perceived proficiency in several dental disciplines, CE delivery preferences, CE attendance patterns, and perceived support in obtaining CE. The topics with the least respondent interest were pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and pharmacology. There was significant overlap between subjects of highest interest and subjects of highest perceived provider proficiency (digital dentistry, operative, and oral surgery). Several of the subjects of least interest were also among the lowest ranked in perceived proficiency: medical emergencies, pharmacology, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and dental public health. The most preferred format for CE delivery was hands-on training; however, it was also the third lowest attended CE type, the researchers found. A lack of funding was the biggest obstacle to attending CE. These findings, the researchers report, "provide useful information that may help develop a Defense Health Agency CE program with intentionality."

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