by: Cpl. Alex C. Guerra
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Mar. 29, 2008) — With a patient list numbering thousands and only one dental officer, the Role 3 dental clinic here was overwhelmed.
One of the two ISAF dentists left abruptly for a family emergency, leaving one dental officer to care for more than 9,000 patients and no idea where to start.
The dental clinic needed help, and without hesitation, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Combat Logistics Battalion 24 commanding officer offered its two dental officers and staff.
“The clinic was hurting for dentists,” said Lt. Col. Ricky F. Brown, commanding officer, CLB-24, 24th MEU, NATO-International Security Assistance Force. “The MEU stepped up and offered to help out our allies.”
The two Navy dental officers were excited at the opportunity to lend a helping hand.
“When the hospital came and asked for our help, we jumped at the opportunity to see more patients,” said Lt. Gregory C. Hohl, dental officer-in-charge, CLB-24, 24th MEU, ISAF.
“We want to be here,” said Navy Lt. Adam M. Firestone, dental officer, CLB-24, 24th MEU, ISAF. “How many dentists can say they treated patients from all the different countries you can imagine?”
Hohl and Firestone’s presence provided much needed relief to the standing medical forces.
“Having the MEU here really helped fill the void,” said Captain Luis A. DaSilva, dental clinic officer-in-charge, Health Services Support, Canadian Army. “The (24th MEU) commanding officer was more than accommodating. It’s great to have them along.”
Furnished with a portable dental system, allowing dentists to perform almost any definitive treatment, both officers were more than prepared to take on such an abundant number of cliental.
“With the MEU (and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment), we were expected to care for 3,500 Marines and sailors,” said Hohl, an Easton, Penn native. “Now we provide care for nationalities from different countries. They can receive the same treatment you and I get back at home, just in a different environment.”
The officers easily transitioned from working with Marines to working side by side with Alliance members.
“It’s great working with the Americans, they just slotted right in,” said DaSilva, an Edmonton, Alberta native. “They’re cooperative and friendly when we ask for assistance.”
Although the officers and staff were able to work hand-in-hand with each other, adjusting to the cliental had its challenges.
“We see different patients everyday who don’t speak English, and we have to communicate through an interpreter, who speaks only a little English himself, to translate,” said Firestone, a Lafayette, Ind. native. “Usually I have them point to what tooth hurts just to double check.”
Ensuring oral healthiness while deployed does have its own unique challenges.
“Back at home I have the luxuries of various equipment, over here we have to make do with what we have,” said Firestone. “I no longer have an electric chair to work in, now I am cleaning teeth from a lawn chair.”
“We learned to make due and adapt,” said Hohl. “It’s great working here. We can still do pretty much anything we need to.”
Nonetheless, the problems and obstacles both officers initially faced now seem small in comparison to the rewards they reap from their work.
“Helping our allies is a great thing,” said Hohl. “We are looking to help mentor local Afghanis in the near future. This part of the world doesn’t receive much dental care, but having two dentists here really helps us to expand humanitarian assistance.”
“The people here are very thankful for our work,” said Firestone. “Whenever I call my wife (who is also a dentist) about the patients we’ve seen, mine are always way more interesting.”
Despite the heavy workload and long hours, the officers remain humble about their role for NATO.
“I am more thankful that Role 3 is here, than Role 3 is having us help them with their work load,” said Firestone. “I read books about dentistry in the wild west; dentists caravanning around to different towns, setting up shop on a porch and start pulling teeth. Being here I feel the like that, you can drop me anywhere and I can start doing my thing.”
Both dentists are thankful to fill in and know that their work contributes to the mission at hand.
“Our goal is to make sure that no Marine gets pulled off the line or medically evacuated because of dental readiness,” said Hohl. “We are here to help everyone, to include our allies and local population, by making sure that our Marines are healthy and stay in the fight.”
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