A two-person dental clinic is safeguarding mission readiness for thousands of service members at a deployed U.S. Air Force base.
Lt. Col. Douglas Grabowski, dental services chief with the 378th Expeditionary Medical Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Miguel Guajardo, the clinic’s noncommissioned officer in charge, provide comprehensive dental care to more than 2,500 personnel assigned to the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Their mission is simple but critical: prevent dental problems from sidelining airmen.
“Dental emergencies take people out of the fight,” Grabowski said. “Our goal is to make sure teeth and oral emergencies do not interfere with the mission.”
Despite their small team size, the dental clinic delivers both preventive and emergency care. Grabowski and Guajardo remain on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to handle urgent cases that could impact operational readiness.
Guajardo said patient care and prevention are his primary motivations.
“I don’t like seeing people in pain,” he said. “By providing quality cleanings and education on home care, we can help prevent future problems.”
Through continuous availability and a focus on prevention, the 378th EMDS dental clinic plays a key role in maintaining a ready, resilient, and effective fighting force.
