Passing oral exams; important part of readiness

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Martha Whipple
  • 44th Fighter Group Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, NM --  Brush twice a day, floss and smile! Having a healthy mouth is part of every Reservist's readiness commitment.

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Robert Heun, 44th Aeromedical Dental Squadron dentist, is open for business from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays during each Unit Training Assembly (UTA). Every Airmen is required to have a dental exam every year and a military dental exam every third year. The military exam is a visual assessment of oral health and may include X-rays.

"A patient's mouth is a window to his overall health," Heun said. "Taking care of your oral health is part of a Reservist's overall medical readiness. Practice good oral hygiene every day because it is an investment in overall health and ultimately your future."

The commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Maj. Gen. Charles Stenner, has a "no points, no pay" policy for Reservists who are not medically ready for deployment, which includes dental health. It is the individual's responsibility to maintain readiness. To track medical readiness, log on to the Air Force Portal and go to the health link.

Before heading to a civilian dentist, print the Department of Defense Active Duty/Reserve Forces Dental Examination Form 2813. This form will be signed by a civilian dentist and returned to the 44th AMDS and logged into a database which tracks individual readiness. This form can be found on the portal or on the 44th Fighter Group Share Point site.

Heun joined the unit in October 2010 to ensure the dental readiness of Reservists. He travels from Fort Carson, Colo., to support the Reservists at Holloman. He has been practicing dentistry for 14 years.