Soldiers teach local students dental hygiene

Photo By Ashley Roy | Third, fourth and fifth graders from East Side Elementary School, Edinburgh Community School Corp., answer trivia questions about teeth and dental care during a fieldtrip at the Camp Atterbury Dental Clinic, Edinburgh, Ind., March 15. Students spent the morning touring the facility and learning about dental hygiene before playing the trivia game. (Photo by Ashley Roy, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)  

EDINBURGH, IN, UNITED STATES

03.19.2013

Story by Ashley Roy 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

EDINBURGH, Ind. - A building usually filled with camouflage uniforms and the sound of combat boots hitting tile, the dental clinic at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Edinburgh, Ind., welcomed third through fifth grade students from East Side Elementary School, Edinburgh Community School Corp., March 15.

The students received a tour of the facility and educational information pertaining to dental hygiene including a video, dental trivia game and the opportunity to speak with an Army dentist.
This is the first time the facility has hosted a group of children.
Broken down by grade, students were shown an X-ray machine, the image it produces, a demonstration of proper brushing techniques and common dental tools.

After students experienced a spin in the exam chair and the relaxed atmosphere of the office, Staff Sgt. Nick Philoctete, noncommissioned officer in charge of the dental clinic, hopes the kids realize the importance of dental care, and that a dentist or dental setting is there to make their teeth healthy, not cause pain.

“The purpose of this mission here is to teach children how important it is to keep their teeth clean later on in life. As far as a lot of kids go, they eat a lot of sweets and other unhealthy foods and they don’t realize the importance of it until much later in life,” said Philoctete.

Walking through the building, laughter and smiles were present as kids played patient and dentist. The trip seemed to be a success.

“We had to make some changes due to some missions as far as other soldiers needing dental treatment, but so far it’s worked out well,” said Philoctete.

Consisting of two buildings, the dental clinic is responsible for assisting with the mobilization mission of Atterbury.

“This particular building here is more for soldier readiness processing, soldiers who get mobilized or demobilized and want to make sure that their records are up to date and standards are met for dental. The other building is more of dental treatment,” he explains.

“We all work as a team together, and we do whatever it takes to get the mission done.”

• Date Taken: 03.19.2013
• Date Posted: 03.29.2013 13:35
• Story ID: 104319
• Location: EDINBURGH, IN, US