The Maxwell Medical Group’s Dental Flight has taken a significant step to enhance airman readiness by reinstating advanced in-house oral surgery services and integrating digital dentistry, enabling faster and more comprehensive care for the installation’s active-duty population.
As part of this effort, the clinic is now able to manage complex procedures that were previously referred to external providers.
“A large number of procedures had been referred out, including root canals, implants and wisdom teeth,” said US Air Force captain Thomas Hardison, a comprehensive dentist at Maxwell Medical Group. “By having the training and capability to carry out these procedures on site, a substantial amount of care has been brought back in-house.”
The Dental Flight plays a critical role in ensuring personnel are cleared for deployment, often responding at short notice to meet operational requirements.
“When patients are preparing to deploy, it is essential that they are ready,” said US Air Force technical sergeant Ernessie Ladouceur, dental flight chief at Maxwell Medical Group. “If there are issues preventing deployment, the team prioritises addressing them so personnel can be cleared in time.”
While the reintroduction of sedation capabilities has been a recent focus, the clinic is also expanding the range of procedures it provides.
“These include implants, sinus lifts, ridge augmentation and other periodontal surgeries,” Hardison said.
Modernisation has also underpinned the clinic’s enhanced capabilities, with a renewed emphasis on digital dentistry. The adoption of advanced technologies has helped to reduce chair time and improve clinical precision.
“We currently have two 3D printers in operation,” Hardison said. “Most procedures are now carried out digitally — we scan cases, 3D print models and mill restorations.”
Retaining these advanced services within the military health system supports continuity of care by ensuring patient records remain centralised and accessible.
“The key benefit is continuity,” Ladouceur said. “More patients can receive their care here rather than seeing providers off base, which reduces the number of things they need to manage.”
The Dental Flight’s primary mission remains ensuring that airmen are medically prepared for operational duties.
“The overall aim is to ensure active-duty personnel are fit and ready,” Ladouceur added. “So when they are deployed, they are not having to deal with issues such as dental pain.”
Source: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
