LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Having healthy, bright teeth improves self esteem and confidence. The 633d Dental Squadron ensures everyone's smile is the best it can be.
Boasting a 31-room facility and a satellite clinic within the base's main hospital, the squadron provides world-class care in all areas of general dentistry to more than 37,000 patients annually, said Col. Douglas Ammon, 633 DS commander.
The clinic provides service to all military members, with 99 percent of patient needs satisfied, he added.
The clinic's primary mission is to ensure Airmen are dentally qualified for worldwide duty, said Ammon. In addition, the clinic aims to promote dental health and good oral hygiene to the greatest extent possible.
The clinic supports the Air Force's post-graduate residency program, welcoming new dental officers in for training and career development.
"I like to joke around with them. I always post funny pictures to make them feel comfortable," said Airman Bethany Provot, 633 DS dental technician. Provot assists dentists in advance general dentistry.
While Senior Master Sgt. Dwayne Menefee, 1st Maintenance Operations Squadron superintendent of maintenance operations flight, said he typically dreads visiting dentists, the clinic gives him confidence in the care he recieves.
"If you have to go to the dental clinic, I would advise you to go to Langley's clinic. The doctors and dental techs are very professional and know what they are doing," he said during his visit to the clinic for a root canal.
633 DS Airmen deploy worldwide, providing the same quality dental care to military members in expeditionary environments.
"You have to trust in what we are doing to provide you with the best dental treatment," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Weinert, 633 DS dental services superintendent.
The squadron does more than clean teeth -- other services provided include oral surgery, periodontics, which is the treatment of gum disease, endodontics, or root canal treatments, and prosthodontics, which involves replacing missing teeth.