Airmen and dental residents teamed up to provide children of active-duty service members essential dental care during the 55th Dental Squadron’s annual Dental Day at Ehrling Bergquist Clinic in Bellevue, Nebraska, Feb. 7, 2025.
The initiative offered valuable care and served as a training opportunity for residents in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD-1) program.
The event provided young patients with cleanings, fluoride treatments, X-rays, extractions, and other services at no cost.
“I’m sure working with kids is not the easiest task for folks in the dental field,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Fields, 55th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment non-commissioned officer in charge. “The level of professionalism and ability to manage kids from different age groups was impressive. I brought all three of my kids and each of them had a great experience. It was also my daughter’s seventh birthday and when they realized it, they brought her out a gift and head band to wear.”
For many children, this was their first-ever dental exam, an important step in ensuring lifelong oral health.
Senior Airman Ieisha Cooper, 55th Dental Squadron AEGD residency program lead technician, played a pivotal role in organizing the event. She prepared hygiene bags, assembled patient folders, printed consent forms, and oversaw the setup and takedown of decorations.
Cooper and her team worked behind the scenes from Jan.24 through Feb. 7, when they took the last of the decorations down at the end of the event to make sure every detail was taken care of.
“It was a great feeling and an honor,” said Cooper. “Seeing the children happy made all the hard work worth it.”
Capt. Jonathan Martino, 55th DS dental resident, conveyed his appreciation for parents’ involvement in the examination process. He performed a knee-to-knee exam, which is an exam method used to get an early look at how children’s teeth are developing, detect cavities and screen for illnesses. Having the parent involved decreases stress for the child and helps to educate the parent on how to take care of their child’s teeth.
“I was grateful for the opportunity to provide preventative care and education to children and their parents, that will help reduce their risk of future dental disease,” said Martino.
As each child left with free dental supplies and a brighter smile, this event reinforced the dental squadron’s commitment to supporting military families. The dedication of the 55th Dental Squadron and volunteers contributed to a successful event for the children receiving care and the professionals providing it.