GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba--Just because of the myth that George Washington had wooden teeth, doesn’t mean you don’t have to brush yours. I’m willing to bet Martha would have preferred to have a husband with pearly whites. Also, Washington didn’t exactly have the dental advancements that are available today, so he sort of had an excuse. Sort of.
So why are there so many Service members with avoidable dental issues coming in to see Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Henson, Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s dentist? Somewhere Martha is shaking her head in disapproval.
“I am the sole dentist here that treats basically all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guard and Marines for JTF,” said Henson. “I provide all their dental care, sick call emergency care and any kind of specialty needs they have.”
The dental clinic’s duty is significant because dental readiness is a crucial aspect to mission success.
“Patients that are not ready in terms of dental status, you have to worry about them potentially coming off the front lines and needing emergency treatment,” said Henson.
This creates possible problems, said Henson. It creates the need to cover down on the absent Troopers responsibilities and puts avoidable stress on the unit. This could lead to a potentially life threatening scenario, all because a service member didn’t take the necessary steps to be dentally ready.
Henson mentioned that a large majority of what he treats is preventable, and it is the everyday upkeep that will keep you dentally ready and healthy.
“Brushing twice a day, flossing before you go to bed, coming to your exams every year, it’s the simple things that people kind of neglect,” said Henson. “You only brush the teeth you want to keep.”
Henson has been treating JTF Troopers at GTMO for nine months and applauded the good attendance of his patients here.
“The reasons were here is to take care of you guys,” said Henson.
The dental clinic is located in the Joint Troop Clinic on Kittery Beach Road.