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Customers always smile at the 379th Dental Clinic

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  When a tooth ache strikes or dental emergency develops, it is reassuring to know the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group Dental Clinic is here to get to the bottom of the pain and ensure the patient is smiling when he or she leaves.

The 379th Dental Clinic is staffed with one dentist and two technicians. The main focus of this highly-experienced dental staff is to return the warfighter back to their mission they were deployed to do.

The staff can accommodate any dental issue.

"It doesn't matter if it's a simple tooth ache or a complex root canal, we ensure patients get the treatment they need," said Master Sgt. James Bunce, 379th Dental Clinic element chief. "Tooth pain is very distracting to anyone trying to do their job, or even sleep for that matter. Our goal is to alleviate that distraction."

The staff is never short of patients to see. The three-man team sees approximately 150 patients a month for a variety of different issues. Some patients just need a custom fitted mouth guard while others may need a temporary crown because they lost an entire tooth.

Active-duty members who are assigned here on permanent change of station orders can expect the same outstanding care they have grown to expect at any stateside base. This includes the yearly dental exam, a dental cleaning and all follow-up care that might be required.

In addition to serving military members, this team also ensures our K-9 warriors are taken care of as well. This unique mission is not found at many other clinics in the Air Force. They treat all military working dogs here at the 379th and ensure these warriors receive routine cleanings, tooth extractions and any other dental service needed to keep them in the fight.

"Regardless of the circumstances, our main goal is to always save the tooth and provide discomfort relief to all of our patients, humans or K9s," said Bunce. "We wish we could provide everyone a dental cleaning, but because of our limited staff we can only offer that service to our permanent party members, however, if anyone is having a dental issue, we are here for you".

The dentists here utilize years of knowledge and experience to meet mission requirements. Some resources are sometimes limited in comparison to a dental clinic stateside.

"Being deployed is a less than ideal situation," said Lt. Col. Philip Barone, 379th EMDG dentist. "Unlike all the other clinics in the Air Force, we don't have a dental lab to fabricate crowns; however, we are adaptable survivors and do the best with what we have."

Being adaptable was never more apparent when a patient came into the office recently and had both is front teeth chipped in half.

"It was a rough situation for the patient," said Bunce. "He was very worried about his appearance and missing half of his front two teeth was embarrassing for him. We knew we had to do something to fix the issue."

That's exactly what Barone did. He was able to mold a composite material into the exact shape of the missing teeth. After the work was complete, the patient couldn't believe his eyes when he first looked into the mirror.

"He was absolutely astonished," said Bunce. "He said he couldn't even tell the composite wasn't his actual teeth. Seeing that expression on his face and knowing he could smile with confidence is why we do our job. Smiles are what we strive for.

"That procedure is a true testament to the incredible work Lieutenant Colonel Barone does," he continued. "His innovations with our limitations are simply amazing."

When a dental emergency arises, knowing what to do can lessen the pain and might even save a tooth. It is good to know the dental clinic staff is here to serve; they offer dental sick call Monday through Saturday at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. If you have any dental related questions, they can be reached at 437-4216.

The 379th Dental Clinic has a few tips to help address the most common issues their patients have.

If suffering from a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to remove any food or debris that may be caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums, near the aching tooth. This could burn the gum tissue. If the toothache persists, come see the dental staff. Don't rely on painkillers. They may temporarily relieve pain but the condition, whether it is an infection, cracked tooth or other problem, should be evaluated by the dentist.

If a tooth is knocked out, try to find the tooth. If dirty, rinse the tooth with water by holding the crown. Don't scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If located at either of the base gyms, see the desk staff, they have been provided a tooth saving solution for incidents like this. Otherwise, place the tooth in-between your teeth and gums. Do not put the tooth back in the socket. Time is critical for successful reimplantation, so go to the dental clinic immediately.

If a tooth is broken, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use a cold compresses on the outside of the cheek to help reduce the swelling.

If suffering a tongue or lip bite, clean the area with a clean cloth and apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding cannot be controlled, go to the dental clinic immediately. Bleeding may also be reduced from the tongue by pulling it forward and using gauze to put pressure on the wound.

If objects are caught between teeth, try to gently remove the object with dental floss. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between teeth. If the object cannot be dislodged with floss, contact the dental team.