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Dental technicians ‘more than techs’

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Rojek
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  "Thirty white horses on a red hill
First they champ
Then they stamp
Then they stand still." 

Bilbo Baggins challenged Gollum with this riddle in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit." One group of Airmen who should know the answer are the dental technicians of the 51st Dental Squadron here. 

Starting with nine and a half weeks of training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, these Airmen are able to keep Team Osan "Ready to Fight, and Win, Tonight" by taking care of everything from oral X-rays to teeth cleanings. They also are able to assist dentists with procedures like root canals, fillings and bridges. 

"There's a great bond when you get to know how each other operates," said Dr. (Capt.) Benjamin Gantt, 51st DS dentist. "You build a relationship where you work that much faster and efficiently." 

Each workday usually starts the day before, with the dental technicians reviewing the records for the next day's patients. After setting up the room for the dentist, they begin to call patients in starting at 7 a.m. Working with about eight patients per day, these Airmen have to not only know their way around a mouth, but how to use their own. 

"At first we try to make the patient feel comfortable, try to put them at ease," said Staff Sgt. Rudy Grajales, 51st DS dental technician. "We talk to them and try to make conversation so they don't have to think about being in a dental clinic." 

After the work is done, the dental technicians make sure the patient leaves with a better understanding of dental care. 

"I just let them know how important it is to take care of their teeth," said Sergeant Grajales. "This is the only set of teeth you have. Also, it's the first thing people focus on; you don't want them to see your teeth not clean." 

The technicians even show the patient how to keep their gums healthy. 

"I demonstrate for patients how to floss," said Senior Airman Anita Robertson, 51st DS dental technician. "With the floss, you move it between the teeth until you can't go down anymore - it's in a 'C' shape. And get between every tooth, even behind the very back teeth." 

When a dental technician hears a patient say he is going to change his dental care ways, that makes the job worthwhile, said Sergeant Grajales. 

"At my first duty station, I saw a 4-year-old girl with a lot going on in her mouth - cavities, bottle decay. It was pretty sad to see that," he said. "I realized I could make a difference by teaching her parents how to properly take care of her teeth. That was my turning point - knowing I can make a difference." 

Through their hard work and understanding of dental procedures, the dental technicians here make the dentists' jobs that much easier. 

"(Dental technicians) are indispensable to our operation," said Captain Gantt. "We're only as good as our assistants. 

"They have a very detailed knowledge of dentistry," he added. "They're a lot more than just a tech." 

So what are the "thirty white horses"? Teeth, of course. And by bringing them into the dental clinic, dental technicians can help Airmen and family members keep their teeth clamping and stamping for years to come.