A military based case-control study was conducted from December, 2004 to February, 2005rnamong Core 105 Ethiopian Army found around Dessie, to assess socio-demographic andrnlifestyle determinants of dental caries and to review knowledge and practices towards oralrnhealth among cases and controls of dental caries in military personnel.rnThe study population was selected using multi-stage sampling technique, comprisingrnstratification and simple random sampling technique. Dental examination was undertaken tornidentify cases and controls of dental caries. Once cases and controls were identified, a semistructuredrnand self administered core questionnaire was made.rnOral hygiene practice was found to be lower among cases (57.0 %) as compared to theirrncontrols (83.2%), and the differences was statistically significant after adjusted for otherrnvariables (OR= 3.40, 95 % CI, 2.30, 5.02), but there was no differences among cases andrncontrols in using toothpaste, tattooing the gum and mouse rinsing practices.rnIn this study, year of employment, (being employed in 1990 or after 1990 E.C), grow riftrnvalleys area, consumption of sweet food items, Khat chewing habit and presence of calculus,rngingivitis and plaque in the oral cavity was significantly associated with dental caries.rnThere was no significant difference among cases of dental caries and their controls in theirrnknowledge towards oral health, age, rank, educational status, marital status, religion,rnethnicity, diet ,alcohol drinking, and cigarette smoking habits .rn2rnPromotion of good oral hygiene practices In addition, initiation and strengthening of thernscreening program for the new militaries are recommended to minimize cases of dentalrncaries. The results of this study help the Health Command and other concerned bodies torndesign effective intervention and strategies to improve oral health of the militaries.