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Forward Deployed Dental Readiness Helps Fleet
Story Number: NNS030707-04
Release Date: 7/7/2003 9:36:00 AM
By Bill Doughty, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka Public Affairs
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- "Fleet Dental" in Yokosuka is living up to its name in the summer of 2003.
U.S. Naval Dental Center Far East is hosting USS Kitty Hawk’s (CV 63) dental department at its Fleet Bayside Annex while the “Battle Cat” is in drydock. USS Blue Ridge’s (LCC 19) dental team is using the Mobile Dental Annex, formerly deployed at Ikego. And, at the Fleet Recreation Center's Fleet Dental Center, business is booming as Sailors come in to take care of their dental readiness responsibilities.
“We’ve made a maximum effort to make times available,” said Capt. David Rickey, Branch dental director. “It’s been a challenge to coordinate all of this, but it’s going really well.”
Recently, the dental center provided assistance to the crew of USS Lassen (DDG 82), an Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer on its first cruise, now forward-deployed in the western Pacific in support of the global war on terrorism.
Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW) Shawn Wolfe, independent duty hospital corpsman for Lassen, said, “to be able to pull into here and get a hundred appointments in a week – arranged just by email – is absolutely wonderful. Absolutely.”
He added, “It seems like anything we’ve needed to get done, despite the fact that we’ve crammed their schedule, is being done. I’ve got people getting cleanings, fillings, teeth extracted, everything that they need done is happening.”
Medical or dental readiness is critical for afloat forces.
“It’s essential,” said Wolfe. “Most of my problems, as far as medevac, are when a person comes in with tooth pain because I can’t really treat it.”
According to dental patient Senior Chief Storekeeper (SW) Samson Ballesta, USS Lassen's senior storekeeper, the service and can-do attitude of the staff is appreciated.
“It’s just great, because it makes the crew happier,” said Ballesta. “Healthwise, they’re better off. And it contributes more to the morale of the ship, too, because they are being taken care of by the base.”
For related news, visit the U. S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nhyoko.
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Japanese Dental College Salutes Naval Dental Center - 10/10/2003Kitty Hawk Part of the Team at USNH Yokosuka - 7/11/2003
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