Crafting combat-ready smiles

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mya M. Crosby
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 355th Dental Squadron laboratory was rated top in production for Fiscal Year 2015 by Air Combat Command, keeping Desert Lightining Team members' teeth in healthy condition.

The 355th DS laboratory technicians worked behind the scenes to hand craft 791 special-order requests of dental prosthetic devices.

Within the dental lab, there are three active duty members and one civilian member.

The technicians specialize in fabricating and repairing fixed items, like crowns and dentures, and removable items, such as veneers, retainers and mouth guards. Each item is considered a special order.

Because of their wide variety of capabilities, the technicians' process of completing special orders depends on the request.

"It could take anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks (to complete a special order)," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Baer, 355th Dental Squadron laboratory technician. "Every (order) is different. It's a case-by-case basis because no mouth is the same."

The highly detailed work performed by the dental laboratory technicians ensures that DLT members are combat-ready.