Who’s going to fix your jacked-up grill?

  • Published
  • By Col. Mark E. Muth
  • 60th Dental Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  There is an age old expression, "You never realize what you have until it's gone." This saying rings true when applied to your dental health and military dental health care benefits.

Diligent home care and protection of your precious teeth can result in a life time of service. Unfortunately trauma, neglect, poor habits, illness and disease can wreak havoc on your smile, the most-noticed portion of your body. That's when the dental professionals step in.

The dental mission is readiness, keeping Airmen healthy and fit for duty without the distraction of discomfort or pain. The Air Force Dental Corps, and specifically the 60th Dental Squadron at Travis, has the capability and capacity to provide all eligible beneficiaries an incredible range of dental services.

The delivery of comprehensive dental care can be divided into four steps.

The first step is control of disease. Disease control addresses dental problems such as abscesses, untreated gum disease, problematic wisdom teeth or large cavities that could lead to root canal treatment and would cause a military member to be nondeployable.

The second step is restoration of function. Restoring function could range from placement of simple fillings, fabrication of a bridge, a denture or even placement of a dental implant to replace missing teeth. It also could include bone or gum tissue grafting or re-aligning the teeth and jaws with surgery or orthodontics to allow improved ability to eat and speak.

Your periodic or annual dental exam and cleaning appointment is the cornerstone of prevention and maintenance, the third step.

This step ensures that disease control and function is successful. These appointments are generally quick because much of the work has already been accomplished and the patient is performing adequate daily home care.

The fourth step in comprehensive care is providing enhancement or esthetic dentistry. This is usually only considered when patients have adequately demonstrated the ability to maintain excellent oral hygiene and health. In this phase, the dentist or surgeon can address the color, size, shape and alignment of the teeth, jaws, lips or even rearrange facial features to improve patients' self-esteem, appearance and confidence.

Engage with your dental team early if you are approaching a permanent change of station, retirement or considering separation within the next year and have unmet dental needs. Providing comprehensive dental care requires a significant investment of time and effort by both the dental provider and the patient. Complex dental treatment plans can require anywhere between six and 36 months to complete. Furthermore, a missed appointment, a delay in healing or lack of meticulous oral hygiene can delay or interrupt even the most straightforward dental care.

Dental treatment not completed prior to retirement or separation can be completed by the Veterans Affairs dental clinics, if identified and documented during your retirement or separation dental exam 90 days prior to leaving the military.

As you transition from military to civilian life, access to military dental care will cease or change significantly. Act now to maximize your oral health and utilize your generous military dental health care benefits.

Who's going to fix your jacked-up grill? We will. Give the 60th Dental Squadron a call at 423-7000.