Joint-Military Medical Personnel Work to Give Brighter Smiles
Story Number: NNS080818-03
Release Date: 8/18/2008 2:17:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs
PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua (NNS) -- Joint-military and interagency medical personnel set up a mobile dental unit Aug. 16 at at Juan Comenius High School in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, to provide basic dental needs and education to local residents.
Dentists and dental technicians currently embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) for Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 perform basic cleanings and tooth extractions, as well as teach preventive measures with fluoride and oral hygiene instruction to prevent future complications.
"Many of the people need extractions. They have a lot of diseased teeth, and they need to be taken out, that is the most urgent treatment required," said Col. Dan Dupont, officer-in-charge of the mobile dental unit.
Before the patients can make it to a chair, there is a process they must go through. Paperwork must be completed for each patient, followed by a cleaning from a hygienist, and finally, a dentist evaluates their teeth to see what work needs to be done.
Although some were nervous and a little scared, most patients went in with their mouths wide open, braving drills and needles, for a chance to walk out with a brighter smile and healthier teeth.
"I think even though we can't speak their language, a smile goes a long way," said Army Master Sgt. Melanie Armstead-Williams, one of the volunteer dental assistants.
CP is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations, and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions.
After Nicaragua, Kearsarge will visit Colombia, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Tobago and Guyana.
Kearsarge's mission exemplifies the United States maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interest.
The Continuing Promise Caribbean Phase is the second of two humanitarian and civic assistance deployments to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first Continuing Promise deployment was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.
