DIYALA, Iraq – When Army medical care in a deployed environment comes to mind, most people think of combat medics out in the field working with Soldiers. What many don't realize is that infantry brigades also bring their own dentists.
Meet Capt. Jaylon Waite, a native of Soldotna, Alaska, the dentist for 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and officer in charge of the 3 SBCT, 2nd ID Combat Dental Team currently deployed at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq.
"Our role [as medical] is to preserve the fighting force, to keep them healthy and on the battlefield," said Waite. "We fulfill the role of conserving the fighting force dentally."
Back at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash., Waite and his team worked hard to ensure the brigade's
Meet Capt. Jaylon Waite, a native of Soldotna, Alaska, the dentist for 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and officer in charge of the 3 SBCT, 2nd ID Combat Dental Team currently deployed at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq.
"Our role [as medical] is to preserve the fighting force, to keep them healthy and on the battlefield," said Waite. "We fulfill the role of conserving the fighting force dentally."
Back at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash., Waite and his team worked hard to ensure the brigade's
Soldiers were caught up on their dental needs, so they wouldn't have to schedule a routine exam while deployed. This ensures that Soldiers are dentally fit for duty and are able to focus on missions instead of when they need their next cleaning.
"My primary mission here is emergency dentistry, in case something goes wrong," said Capt. Waite. "However, we will do anything in our capabilities. You don't have to be hurting, or have a broken tooth. If someone comes in and wants me to check them to see if they're healthy, I'll do that."
Since he is the only dentist in the brigade, he is consequently the only Army dentist in Diyala province, and he has Soldiers come from all over the region to see him for their dental needs. Being strictly a general dentist, and not an orthodontist or specialist, he sometimes needs outside help.
"I don't have as many capabilities as I do in garrison, so I have to be careful what I get into, I don't want to bite off more than I can chew," said Waite. "We have other dentists not too far away at Joint Base Balad, so if I need advanced help or support, they have more advanced specialists I can consult."
Besides having specialists at JBB, he has a support team here of two dental technicians, Spc. Lorenzo Cano, and Spc. Mark Van Wart.
"Dentistry is a four-handed job," said the Brigade dentist. "They're my two other hands, without them I'm not much good. I usually have forceps in one hand and in a pick in the other, so they're there to hand me other utensils or supply suction."
Even with most people having a fear of dentists, Waite enjoys his role in this combat team.
"My job rocks," exclaimed Waite. "I get to work on Soldiers. They're good patients. They're typically tough and not whiney. Dentistry is fun, it's mechanical, and it's artistic."
The Army has many medical professionals at hand to ensure Soldiers are capable of completing their missions. Even though they are constantly overlooked, the Combat Dental Team is an essential component to help keep the Army rolling along.
"My primary mission here is emergency dentistry, in case something goes wrong," said Capt. Waite. "However, we will do anything in our capabilities. You don't have to be hurting, or have a broken tooth. If someone comes in and wants me to check them to see if they're healthy, I'll do that."
Since he is the only dentist in the brigade, he is consequently the only Army dentist in Diyala province, and he has Soldiers come from all over the region to see him for their dental needs. Being strictly a general dentist, and not an orthodontist or specialist, he sometimes needs outside help.
"I don't have as many capabilities as I do in garrison, so I have to be careful what I get into, I don't want to bite off more than I can chew," said Waite. "We have other dentists not too far away at Joint Base Balad, so if I need advanced help or support, they have more advanced specialists I can consult."
Besides having specialists at JBB, he has a support team here of two dental technicians, Spc. Lorenzo Cano, and Spc. Mark Van Wart.
"Dentistry is a four-handed job," said the Brigade dentist. "They're my two other hands, without them I'm not much good. I usually have forceps in one hand and in a pick in the other, so they're there to hand me other utensils or supply suction."
Even with most people having a fear of dentists, Waite enjoys his role in this combat team.
"My job rocks," exclaimed Waite. "I get to work on Soldiers. They're good patients. They're typically tough and not whiney. Dentistry is fun, it's mechanical, and it's artistic."
The Army has many medical professionals at hand to ensure Soldiers are capable of completing their missions. Even though they are constantly overlooked, the Combat Dental Team is an essential component to help keep the Army rolling along.
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