Dentists from the Malaysian army and the International Islamic University Malaysia visited hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), Aug. 8-11, for a Pacific Partnership 2016 subject matter expert exchange.

During the exchange, dental practitioners worked together to provide dental care to local Malaysian citizens.

"I think it's very interesting to get to know how the dentists [treat] the patients inside the ship and how their procedures are similar to ours," said Lt. Nurul Naquiah, Malaysian army general dental practitioner.

Working side-by-side, the visiting dentists and the Pacific Partnership 2016 providers took turns examining the patients with a partner and then compared diagnoses.

"As a young dentist in the military, [I] don't do a lot of dentures, so this was a unique case where we were able to provide a full denture set for one of the patients and we're working together, bouncing information off of each other and I think it went really well," said Lt. Gabrielle Jung, a Navy dentist from Aurora, Colorado. "The steps, the how-to process, the thinking process, and the treatment process were almost identical, but of course the techniques are a little bit different."

For some of the dentists, this is not their first time working together. Providers from Mercy recently joined the Malaysian army dentists for a three-day community health engagement in Tasik Chini.

"In Tasik Chini we did screenings, extractions, restorations, fluoride treatments, scaling, root planting, and oral hygiene instruction," said Lt. Trevor Tafoya, general dental practitioner from Boise, Idaho.

Tafoya commended Malaysia's proactive effort to improve the country's dental health.

"They are making a big emphasis to educate the population, especially the children, by trying to create a new mindset and train of thought and helping people to understand the importance of preventative care and all of the problems that come down the line without it," said Tafoya.

Outreach programs are a common event for the Malaysian army dentists. Having Pacific Partnership participate in the Tasik Chini outreach gave them a chance to build professional relationships and mutual understanding.

"I think it was a nice experience; we have done a lot of the outreach programs before at our [command]," said Capt. Wan Suraya, Malaysian army general dental practitioner. "When we work together we can see each other's type of approach. So, we work together, but we have a different approach -- a different way to reach patients. I think it's fine because there are a lot of patients that need help."

While working together on Mercy the dentists were able to offer services including cleanings, extractions, dentures and fluoride treatments.

"I think Malaysians are really excited to be involved and be aboard to see how we do business," said Royal Australian air force Flight Lt. Lisa Holliday, event lead. "I don't think it's terribly different from how they do it other than the fact that we're on a ship. Coming here we do things in a very similar fashion. It's very good from a whole mission perspective just seeing a very different range [of capabilities] that's out there."

Pacific Partnership 2016 has completed missions in Timor Leste, the Philippines, Vietnam and Palau, where the mission is led by a multinational team aboard JS Shimokita (LST 4002). Upon departure from Kuantan, Pacific Partnership 2016 will make its final stop in Indonesia, where subject matter expert exchanges and procedures will continue.

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