Final answer:
The Department of Defense is responsible for authorizing civilian dental care to ensure the dental health and deployment readiness of active duty members. This access to dental care is a key aspect of maintaining military personnel's overall health and readiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Department of Defense authorizes civilian dental care for active duty members to ensure dental health and deployment readiness. Access to health care services, including but not limited to dental care, is critical to maintaining the overall health and readiness of military personnel. The dental programs in place aim to provide comprehensive care to active duty members, securing their ability to deploy and fulfill their duties without the hindrance of dental issues.
The authority that authorizes civilian dental care for active duty members to ensure dental health and deployment readiness is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA oversees the services provided to U.S. veterans, including health care services and benefits programs and is responsible for ensuring that active duty members receive the necessary dental care. This ensures that they maintain good dental health and are ready for deployment.