Army, Air Force dental professionals work hand-in-hand Published June 2, 2006 By Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego 305 AMW Public Affairs McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Like a growing family, the 305th Dental Squadron has had some recent additions to its team. But unlike their typical incoming Airmen, the troops received were Soldiers. To better serve the McGuire and Fort Dix communities, Army dentist Lt. Col. (Dr.) James Ross and three Army dental technicians joined the McGuire Dental Clinic team in January, increasing access and allowing more patients to be seen. At the same time, this joint initiative is helping Army providers keep up their healthcare readiness skills and competencies in between mobilizations and demobilizations. Their addition to the McGuire dental team came about after a meeting with Army Col. Linda Smith, West Point, N.Y,. dental activity commander. The meeting was initially to address the increase of Army personnel seeking dental care at McGuire, due to Soldiers getting activated for the Global War on Terrorism and confusion as to who on Fort Dix was permanent party, intransient, active-duty guard, and reservist or guardsman on orders or without. Mill’s Dental, the dental facility on Fort Dix mainly assisted transient Soldiers coming through Fort Dix during troop movements. During the summer and into the fall of 2005, McGuire’s Dental Clinic manning was down three dentists, making it difficult to serve both McGuire and Fort Dix. To help resolve both situations, Colonel Smith offered to send a reservist dentist and three reservist technicians from Mill’s on orders for a year. “We are grateful to have our Army partners’ help. McGuire dental care is able to flow much smoother now, without low-manning interruptions,” said Master Sgt. Susan Bence, 305th DS superintendent. “Having the Army aboard has helped build a bridge between the two services. We now have a better understanding of the requirements and demands placed upon the Army and their dental needs, and vice versa. We have been building a good rapport. Whether you are Air Force or Army you will all get the same care here in our clinic.” Since their arrival, the Soldiers have been working hand-in-hand with the Air Force dental staff, providing both special and routine dental care, significantly decreasing the prior two-month wait for a dental appointment, Sergeant Bence said. “The dental staff is constantly looking at ways to better serve our customers,” Sergeant Bence said. “It is important to help keep the mission going and keep the military population ready to deploy at all times. That is our number one priority, as well as trying to put smiles on people’s faces while we do it. After all, we like to see teeth.” Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Matthews, 305th Dental Squadron dental assistant, agreed. “We have a common goal to ensure everyone is worldwide qualified. “This change couldn’t have come at a better time. We are a service of one, supporting a joint mission. We are glad to have the opportunity to enhance the camaraderie with our sister service.” Dr. James Ross said he’s enjoying working alongside the Air Force and was received with open arms. “It was nice to receive the same orientation as any Air Force dentist or assistant arriving at McGuire,” Dr. Ross said. “The military branches are like closed societies. It’s nice to get to know another culture, and it’s interesting to learn the Air Force jargon, like all of the ‘wing’ references.” The overall picture of the dental clinic in the future is hard to tell, but in the meantime, the joint dental staff will continue to develop and improve processes to continue providing the best dental care possible, said Sergeant Bence. “We have plans to train the assistants on things our Air Force dental assistants are trained on, so they have opportunities to enhance their skills while they are here,” Sergeant Bence said. “As time goes on, we will continue to prepare for whatever joint basing may bring. We look forward to meeting with all three services as well. Changes are constantly being made, some for the better and some still need a little more work, but we remain positive that things will only keep getting better.”