Small Dental Flight team has big job taking care of the entire wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lauren Gleason
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A small team of dentists and dental assistants at the 507th Dental Flight has the challenging task of treating some 1,000 Airmen here. 

They complete approximately 50 annual dental exams over the course of a typical two-day unit training assembly.

Dental Flight Commander, Lt. Col. Randall Griffin, oversees two general dentists and seven dental assistants.

The goal is to perform routine oral exams to ensure airmen maintain optimal oral health in order to be deployment ready, not to provide treatment.   Airmen are placed into a deployment classification, which range from class 1 to class 4.  Class 1 and 2 mean the airman is able to deploy, and class 3 and 4 mean further treatment is necessary to bring the patient into a deployable status.

If any abnormalities or caries are present, the patient must follow up with their civilian dentist.  For those without dental insurance, TRICARE offers a voluntary dental plan to reservists and their families. 

In addition to the 507th ARW, the Navy reserve also operates out of the dental clinic and examines approximately 30 patients per training assembly weekend. 

Along with the oral exam, x-ray radiographs are captured to screen for any caries that the dentist may not see immediately upon visual inspection or that are under the gum line.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Donald Kern, a Navy reserve dental assistant, explains some advantages of the military's decision to upgrade to digital x-rays versus the old system that used film.

"Taking x-rays digitally reduces the amount of radiation exposure to us and the patients by 90 percent.  Also, with digital images, military dentists can diagnose and treat dental issues anywhere, even in deployed locations," Kern said.

According to 507th Medical Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Carolyn Newhouse, the medical squadron's three missions are to support national objectives, support humanitarian efforts, and make sure all members of the wing are ready to deploy.

Newhouse said she's impressed with the members of the dental flight's initiative to branch out into other areas outside of the dental clinic and help out as needed.

"It's really cool that they are not only performing dental tasks, but they go above and beyond and help out other squadrons and the wing," Newhouse said.  "They are also keeping our patients at an outstanding 98% class 1 and 2 rating."