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Dental Airmen fill faces with smiles in AOR

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Just like troops and cargo movement is vital to the operations in Afghanistan, the Dental Clinic is a core part of the mission here that when missing could create a "cavity" in the smooth process of operations.

The Airmen of the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group Dental Clinic ensure members deployed to the Transit Center at Manas or transiting through receive exemplary dental service.

They provide a range of treatment such as fractured teeth-restorations, treating oral infections and extractions, in order to keep service members dentally fit.

"A fighting force is only as strong as the medical and dental health of its fighters," said Lt Col Jana Dykes, a general dentist and Chief of Dental Services at the 376th EMDG, permanently stationed at Offutt AFB. "We treat U.S. forces -- Guard and Reserve, Coalition forces, Embassy staff, and Contractors whether they are in transit, or stationed here. Our priorities are emergency treatment to return patients to dental health as soon as possible so they are fit to fight."

Manas Dental Airmen ensure service members are fully medically cleared.
Without these Airmen here, clearing or treating service members dentally for contingency operations and redeployments would be a daunting task.

"The mission would be negatively impacted downrange without us here," Colonel Dykes said. "Some of these patients report excruciating pain and are very much in need of dental treatment when they get off the aircraft here. I am happy that we are able to alleviate most of it, such as the several facial swellings, before they get to their final destination, and we are able to make the next dentist's job easier. Without us, all the permanent party and the contractors would have to seek care down-town."

In their dental operatory, there is an array of equipment, such as dental drills to prepare teeth for a variety of restorations, a triturator to mix permanent and temporary filling materials, and high and low speed suctions, among others. According to the team, every piece of equipment must be in place before any job is carried out.

Tech. Sgt. Alison McSween, a dental technician on call 24/7 for all dental and surgical emergencies, is in charge of processing and sterilizing all surgical instruments used daily at the 376th EMDG.

"I am a vital part of this circle of care," Sergeant McSween said. "I ensure that the surgical instruments are always ready and available 24/7 to take care of our fighters."

"We also ensure to follow strict infection control guidelines as we provide the best care possible," Colonel Dykes added.

Sergeant McSween, deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, described the unit as the driving force behind Manas mission.

"We get the troops fit and ready to continue their mission all over the world," she said. "Just like the 'fuels guys' refuel the planes to keep the mission going, we at the 376th EMGD refuel and perform body tune-ups to get our troops fit and back out on the mission. We need each other; you can't have one without the other."

For these Airmen, the joy of the job comes when they see their patients flashing a smile to say a big thank you.

"It is an honor to provide care for our fighters who are on the front line of battle," Sergeant McSween said. "I get a smile whenever they are leaving the hospital fit and ready. I feel I am making a difference. I am here where I know I am needed. There is no amount of value you can put on that."