Senior Airmen Jeremy West, a dental technician with the 18th Dental Squadron, reaches for some tools while performing a routine cleaning on Chief Master Sgt. Gerald Singletary, 18th Maintenance Operations Squadron, March 10. The dental clinic also offers after-hours emergency dental care for active duty Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airmen 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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Senior Airman Allicen Demer, a dental technician with the 18th Dental Squadron, cleans the teeth of Senior Airman Elijah Bacchus, a member of the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, March 10. The dental clinic on Kadena also offers after-hours emergency dental care to the nearly 8,000 active duty military members and 17,000 of their beneficiaries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airmen 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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Senior Airman Allicen Demer, a dental technician with the 18th Dental Squadron, cleans the teeth of Senior Airman Elijah Bacchus, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, March 10. Emergency after-hours dental care is also offered at the dental clinic between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airmen 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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Double ended dental scalers wait to be used while Senior Airmen Demer works on a patient, March 10. The dental clinic’s main mission is to help active duty members with their oral health during the work day or after hours. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airmen 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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Kadena offers emergency dental care

Published March 24, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Dental Squadron has changed how it offers after-hours emergency dental care to active duty Airmen and their families.

"Instead of going to the Camp Lester emergency room for dental emergencies, most Kadena patients will now have reduced wait time for treatment and less travel time," said Maj. Mi Suke Kim, officer in charge of the dentist on duty after hours program with the 18th DS.

Major Kim said the reduced travel and faster response for emergency dental care can help prevent further damage due to dental trauma.

"With patients being able to receive earlier treatment for dental emergencies, additional harm such as potential tooth loss can be minimized," Major Kim said. "The accessibility of the emergency care also cuts the time patients are normally waiting for treatment."

"Though the dental clinic can treat most dental emergencies, if a patient suspects further injuries (to the mouth and face), they should still be seen by the emergency room staff (at Camp Lester)", said Maj. Brady Thomson, an orthodontist with the 18th DS.

Patients can reach the on-call dentist between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. by dialing 080-2721-0412. For additional dental information visit the Kadena home page at http://www.kadena.af.mil, under "Resources" click "Medical & Dental" then "18th Dental Squadron information."