Dental lessons learned from large-scale military dental records in the Israel defense forces: military dentistry as a window into national oral health trends

Abstract Mandatory military service creates a unique opportunity to examine health patterns in a near-comprehensive national cohort of young adults. In this context, large-scale, routinely collected military health data, particularly from dental records, can serve as a powerful lens through which to explore broader public health phenomena. Recent population-based studies conducted within the Israel Defense Forces have demonstrated how clinical records originally intended to ensure operational readiness can also illuminate associations between health outcomes and social determinants. These findings highlight the untapped potential of military health systems to contribute not only to force fitness, but to national health surveillance and epidemiologic insight. Particularly in the realm of oral health, where disease burden remains relatively high and disparities are both widespread and insufficiently explored, military data provide a scalable, real-world foundation for risk assessment, preventive strategies, and informed policy development. The integration of clinical, cognitive, and demographic data from this setting underscores the relevance of military research far beyond its operational context, informing strategies that bridge public health, clinical practice, and social equity.