Department of Defense dental personnel are participating in intensive training at Beaute this week to hone their military proficiency. The personnel are also being introduced to the new Operational Dental Unit, an essential part of providing proper care during missions.
Dentists, dental assistants and dental hygienists from Queen Astrid Military Hospital and the 14th and 23rd Medical Battalions take part in live-fire sessions, practice their reactions to hostile contact, map reading skills and their radio communications skills. All essential skills for any soldier ready to go on a mission. In addition, soldiers are also introduced to a new operational unit designed to manage dental care in the field.
New operating unit
In the modular concept, different elements are produced separately and then combined into a functional whole. The medical component regularly uses this technology, and the new modular dental cabinet is a good example. This integrates all the equipment needed to provide care on site, whether in a tent, a container or a temporary building.
“We are fortunate to be able to follow all the different steps of the process effectively,” explains Commander Tin De Nis, a dentist at Queen Astrid Military Hospital. “In general, in the civilian sector, we do not see how a dentist’s cabinet is assembled and certainly not how it happens with a modular or mobile concept.
Dental Emergencies on Mission
Before loading out, dentists check each soldier’s oral health. “Our work is primarily preventative,” says the commander. “We have to make sure all service members have good dental health to avoid pain that could interfere with their mission.”
But their role does not stop there: Since dental emergencies can also occur during a mission, it is essential to be able to intervene quickly on the ground. “Although the soldiers have been checked before the mission and do not feel any pain, 10 to 13 percent of them still have dental problems during the missions,” emphasizes dental major Matthias Nieuckermans.
A diverse career full of opportunities.
A career in the Defense Dental Service offers career flexibility, allowing professionals to advance to management positions before returning to clinical practice. Dentists combine medical expertise with military skills while playing a key role in employee health. This dynamic career goes beyond the walls of a traditional office while offering many diverse and challenging careers.
Would you like to become a dentist or a member of the medical staff in the defense?
Go to mil.be To discover our latest job offers!
