OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. –
The AEGD Program board chose six 55th DS dentists to participate in this year’s course to increase their knowledge in all dental specialties and become general dentists.
“The AEGD-1 residency is incredibly rigorous,” said Capt. Christina Siek, 86th Dental Squadron general dentist. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much over the last year from some incredible mentors, and to have made connections that will last me the rest of my Air Force career.”
The residents learned how to perform periodontal surgeries, orthodontic procedures, root canals, crowns, and fill cavities throughout the year-long program, which costs $1.1 million annually.
Some bases have dental facilities with less resources and therefore less capabilities, which requires service members to see off base medical providers for complex procedures. The program prepares new dentists to face those challenges and increase the capabilities in environments with less resources.
After graduation, the students went to their next base as providers who are prepared to perform their duties in any capacity, said Tech. Sgt. Kalen Sanchez, 55th DS AEGD noncommissioned officer in charge.
The class graduates were sent to bases in need of general dentists including Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
“The learning never stops,” said Col. Lee D. Williames, U.S. Strategic Command’s, command surgeon, and guest speaker for the event. “The world is your oyster. Celebrate today, and tomorrow go out and get it.”