Coming soon to a Forward Operating Base near you: Dentist in a Van

Photo By Spc. Josh Lecappelain | The inside of the Dentist in a Van is easy to sanitize due to their linoleum floors with few cracks where germs can hide and walls that are easy to wipe down.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.26.2009

Story by Spc. Josh Lecappelain 

Multi-National Division-Central

By Spc. Josh LeCappelain
Multi-National Division – Center

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Anyone who has ever had a pulsing cavity, throbbing through their skull, can attest to the overwhelming feeling of frustration and irritation that overcomes them. Imagine being stuck at a tiny base, cut off from outside dentistry support and having to wake up, day after day, with the constant ping of pain.

Luckily, for those individuals in dire need of dental attention, help is on its way.

Following up on an idea created originally by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division and inherited by 3rd BCT, 101st Airborne Div. (Air Assault), the Multi-National Division – Center surgeon office has retrofitted a milvan (military-leased shipping container) into a transportable, easily adaptable dental clinic known as "Dentist in a Van."

"Dental care is more important than people think," said Lt. Col. David Wallace, MND-C division surgeon. "The challenge of treating people, getting them back to larger forward operating bases for simple procedures, helped necessitate this."

The van will reach Soldiers and service members in the remotest areas of Iraq. Currently, the plan is to supply one Dentist in a Van to the 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.'s area of operations, as well as a second to the 172nd IBCT's area.

"It's extremely easy to transport," said Cpt. Gail Raymond, MND-C medical logistics officer. "You throw it on the back of a truck bed and take it wherever you need it to go."

The Dentist in a Van has been tweaked since its initial usage, with different flooring and walls to ensure quicker, more hygienic cleanup, said Wallace. The containers also contain their own generators, making them self-sufficient.

"They are much more hygiene centered," said Raymond. "They are easy to wipe down and sterilize, with linoleum floors. With a single sheet or two and one seam, there aren't a lot of cracks on the floor that are difficult to clean."

Each BCT has one assigned dentist. Previously, Soldiers required transportation from their base to the dentist's location, lengthening the amount of time they would be in oral agony. With a functional Dentist in a Van system, the dentist can come to their location – or at least a base nearby.

"It's easier than sending a person to a [forward operating base], which can waste a few days," Raymond said. "We can take the dentist to them and spend only a few hours."

Due to the setup, it could conceivably be used in the future to rotate physical therapy equipment through areas of operation as well. If needs be, the milvan can be quickly restored to its original purpose, as no damages or significant changes were made to the containers in order to create the Dentist in a Van.

• Date Taken: 01.26.2009
• Date Posted: 01.26.2009 16:18
• Story ID: 29290
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ