Worry about the enemy not a toothache

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kedesha Pennant
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  You're in a deployed environment in the middle of nowhere, and the toothache you thought was the least of your worries stateside has come back with a painful vengeance.

Yet, there is no dental facility on your forward operating base and the nearest one is 100 miles away. This toothache that could have been taken care of before your deployment has now become your worst dental nightmare.

Keeping servicemembers mission-ready is the goal of the 7th Aerospace Medical Squadron. The dental flight at the 7th Medical Group plays a key role to ensure active duty members are ready to deploy.

"A lot of people avoid the dental clinic," said Tech. Sgt. Anita Presley, 7th AMDS noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the dental flight, "but the annual requirement is every active duty member must get a dental exam."

The staff is comprised of three types of dentists, as well as technicians, hygienists and assistants who serve 55-70 patients a day.

"Our goal is to ensure everyone is dentally ready and prepared when the mission calls," Presley said.

There are different readiness classes military members are categorized in, which explains their current dental status.

· CLASS 1. Patients with a current dental examination who do not require dental treatment or reevaluation. Class 1 patients are worldwide deployable.
· CLASS 2. Patients with a current dental examination who require non-urgent dental treatment or reevaluation for oral conditions that are unlikely to result in dental emergencies within 12 months. Class 2 patients are worldwide deployable.
· CLASS 3. Patients who require urgent or emergent dental treatment. Class 3 patients normally are not considered to be worldwide deployable.
· CLASS 4. Patients who require periodic dental examinations or patients with unknown Dental Readiness Classification. Class 4 patients are not considered to be worldwide deployable.

"Our mission is to fly flight and win so we have to make sure everyone is in Class 1 or 2," Presley said.

Moreover, even the smallest dental issue warrants a trip to the dental clinic.

"Most patients don't realize something as minute as a toothache is a significant enough reason to be seen at the dental clinic," said Staff Sgt. Joanna Maramba, 7th AMDS NCOIC of records and reception. "Small problems can turn into something major that could affect mission readiness."

Despite being undermanned, members of the dental flight assume roles to fill in the gaps.

"We're a team and a family," said Staff Sgt. Robin Ottmo, 7th AMDS NCOIC of the clinical department. "I do this to help everyone and to keep the morale up because I would hate for someone else to suffer."

The dental flight also assists in briefings at different squadrons to educate active duty members. They touch on topics such as the effects cigarettes and sugary drinks have on your teeth.

"If you're going to consume an energy drink, consume it in a couple of gulps because the acid attack on your teeth is constant if you're sipping on it during a long period of time," Ottmo said.

According to the dental clinic, regular visits are vital to the mission. Military members should not avoid the dentist because it could make things worse in the long run.

"It's about deploying and readiness and all the other important things we have to do yearly," said Senior Airman Zoe Brown of 7th AMDS.