Spotlight!
Joint and allied forces build brighter smiles at Kadena AB
By
18th Wing Public Affairs March 26, 2024
Airman 1st Class Jonathan R. Sifuentes
18th Wing Public Affairs March 26, 2024
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Aliyah Parker, back, 18th Dental Squadron orthodontic technician, utilizes a Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing machine on U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Mackenzi Barksdale, front, 3rd Dental Battalion dental technician, to make a 3D model of their own mouth during the 67th Tri-Service Dental Conference at Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 13, 2024. A CAD/CAM machine allows dental technicians to create crowns or implants in place of traditional alginate impressions. Innovations like CAD/CAM were showcased during the conference, giving dental technicians the opportunity to train with and adapt the latest dental industry technology in a joint and trilateral environment. (Airman 1st Class Jonathan R. Sifuentes, U.S. Air Force)
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Kadena Air Base hosted the 67th Tri-Service Dental Conference, a three-day event led by the 18th Dental Squadron, to allow U.S. and Japanese service members and civilian dentistry workers the opportunity to train, network, educate and teambuild.
“A portion of what we’re teaching dentistry workers is adopting new advancements in dental technology and implementing these innovations to their current operations,” said Mario Ryubal, 59th Dental Squadron master dental ceramist. “Although technological advancements take over parts of dental operations, our job still requires people to be trained and skilled to operate these machines.”
The conference included events such as training with the latest in dental engineering innovation, team building exercises, hands-on joint training, safety, procedural and innovation lectures and discussions regarding the future of the dental industry and work life betterment.
“This is the first time the enlisted have been included in the conference,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alexandra Hinestroza, 18th Dental Squadron NCO in charge of education and training. “The event was traditionally open to only providers among the Air Force, Army and Navy.”
Events like the Tri-Service Dental Conference enables joint and allied training, critical for improving interoperability and strengthening operational efficiency to meet standards across dental operations around the globe.
“Apart from our squadron participating in base wide exercises, conferences like this allows service members to train in daily operational areas they don’t regularly operate in,” said Hinestroza. “Practicing like this allows our skilled team to share techniques with their coworkers and sister service counterparts in areas others may not get enough training in.”
While dentistry workers aid in the health of patients, getting feedback can be difficult regarding dental processes. However, working with peers and other service members in events like this allows instant feedback from professionals, providing a detailed assessment of where the technician excels or where they can improve.
“The biggest takeaway I want for our Airmen is to gain professional and self improvement from this conference,” said Hinestroza. “I hope the experience they gain from this builds a better experience for themselves and their patients.”