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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — Dental readiness is a continuous and essential component of mission success, even if it’s not always top-of-mind.
At Scott Air Force Base, the Dental Clinic supports the health and deployability of base personnel and others across the region.
“Dental care is vital because it’s often one of the main reasons members are sent off base for treatment while deployed,” said Lt. Col. Nicole Smith, 375th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron dental flight commander. “If they aren’t properly cleared, there’s a potential to put multiple people in danger by requiring an escort off base to find a provider who can treat them.”
Making strides in this area, Scott AFB serves as a training hub for dental technicians, where Airmen arrive directly from technical school, train to their next-required skill level, and prepare to work independently at smaller or more remote locations. Some training lasts up to two years to equip Airmen to handle these independent roles.
“We show them what their piece of the mission is,” said Master Sgt. Brian Reyes, 375th OMRS dental lab flight chief. “They can then go to another base, where it will likely be a one- or two-person team, where they’ll be running the show or working with a provider or senior leader.”
Scott AFB's dental clinic has transitioned from a residency and squadron structure to a readiness-focused, active-duty-only flight. This aligns the clinic with the immediate needs of deployers, focusing on Class 3 and Class 4 dental statuses to ensure personnel needing a higher-level clearance are prepared for their missions.
Like many other installations, the Dental Clinic has had to increase recruiting efforts to combat recent staffing challenges.
“We’re partnering with recruiters in Wisconsin, Illinois and Tennessee to bring in additional dentists, as the Air Force and DoD are currently facing a shortage of general dentists,” said Smith. She explained that while their patient population remains constant, their staff levels have decreased, placing higher demand on the clinic to maintain the same level of care.
Beyond the Air Force, the Scott AFB Dental Clinic has extended its support to Army and Marine units needing dental clearances and readiness checks while on temporary duty status at Scott AFB.
“We had a Marine receive treatment recently and returned them to duty within 24 hours, thanks to our rapid support,” recalled Senior Master Sgt. Tiffany Harper, 375th OMRS dental superintendent.
Advanced technology, like 3D printing and other digital innovations, allows the clinic to provide quicker, more efficient treatment turnarounds. “What used to take a month with multiple appointments can often be completed in a single day now,” said Reyes.
To further their mission, the clinic plans to host a custom mouthguard event and a free dental care clinic for children in the near future.
Staying current on Individual Medical Readiness items and scheduling appointments prior to being due is a great way for members to keep mission ready. Contact the Dental Clinic at 618-256-2833 to book an appointment.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2024 19:18 |
| Story ID: | 484695 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Dental readiness: How Scott prioritizes mission-ready personnel, by A1C Tyler Moody, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
