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Smile through your braces

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chad Strohmeyer
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  There's a saying that goes "do not to look a gift horse in the mouth," but what if he takes a look in yours?

The gift coming to Osan on Sept. 17 is orthodontist Capt. Daniel Shin.

Captain Shin will visit here twice a month for four to five days at a time to perform routine orthodontistry consisting of correcting malocclusions (crooked teeth that don't line up properly), correcting malformations of the teeth and jaws with braces and other orthodontic appliances to improve smiles and dental health.

People on 12 month tours can have their braces examined and maintained, but they cannot have new ones installed.

"Braces take a couple of years to finish," said Col. Carroll Palmore, 51st Dental Squadron commander. "It's easier on you to have them started at a base where the orthodontist can finish it."

Active duty personnel and only those dependents that are command sponsored can receive redundancy orthodontic care.

"Only command sponsored dependents qualify because of the lack of supplies," Colonel Palmore said. "They only order enough supplies for the amount of active duty and command sponsored."

Osan is not getting a full-time orthodontist because the dental squadron estimates there will only be one orthodontic patient a day. Once Yongsan Garrison relocates to Camp Humphreys, the same orthodontist support will be only 20 minutes away.

"Once more command sponsored dependents arrive we can easily get our own orthodontist," Colonel Palmore said. "It's just a matter of time."

According to Colonel Palmore, PACAF qualifies a base for one orthodontist per 4,000 dependents. There are other factors considered, such as residency training requirements and the availability of other orthopedic care locally.

For information about orthodontistry, contact the Dental Clinic at 784-2108.