Taking a bite out of fear

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Derek VanHorn
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  As a child, there weren't many things scarier than a trip to the dentist. Aside from a bad dream or convincing yourself there was something living under the bed, nothing seemed worse than slowly reclining in a stiff chair while a stranger snapped on pungent latex gloves and chipped away inside your mouth. For many, that hasn't changed, and mustering the courage to schedule that overwhelming appointment is like, well, pulling teeth.

That mindset has made some patients simply impossible to please, while others can be a walk in the park. Whether you find yourself on one end of these extremes or settling somewhere in the middle, you can rest assure the 35th Dental Squadron here will give you the benefit of the doubt.

"We are going to treat everyone with excellent care," said Airman 1st Class Deundre Bryant, a 35 DS technician who works in the periodontics section - an area that focuses on the supporting structures of teeth, conditions and diseases that affect them.

Bryant is the dental assistant for Periodontist Capt. Peter Pedalino, 35 DS, and the two have an extraordinary working relationship with welcoming vibes that trickle through to visiting patients.

"Working with the doc is the best part of the job," Bryant said of Pedalino. "He's a really humble guy and also very smart. If you have a good doctor to work with, things go smoothly."

Bryant is committed to carrying his weight in the operation, showing up an hour before appointments to prepare the room for surgeries. This type of approach is standard within the squadron. Helpful and willing faces move briskly through the hallways from morning to night with an aura of purpose.

"There is a lot of excitement among our Airmen; they love being part of something special," Pedalino said. "These aren't 'my cases'-- they're 'our cases'... our doctors and technicians are taking ownership to provide great results for our patients."

Pedalino is meticulously well-spoken and calming in conversation. He could put a gazelle at ease in a river full of crocodiles. He calls himself a "terrible patient" and uses that discovery in a relentless effort to make his patients feel relaxed during procedures. Some days he'll talk baseball, others it's what's for lunch. If he finds out what kind of music a patient likes, that's what he'll play during surgery.

"Every one is a little different, so if you are able to hit on all the positives and do your best to keep all the little things in mind, the outcome takes care of itself," Pedalino said. "We do the best job we can to create the best possible atmosphere for the patient."

Bryant and Pedalino constantly engage patients and keep them in the loop of events, even when the anesthesia proves too much and the patient responses come out in more of a smiley drool. As scores of instruments exchange hands between providers each day, Pedalino is religiously conscientious to thank Bryant and the rest of the staff for their help.

Pedalino said the services the clinic staff is able to offer are cutting edge, state of the art techniques used across the world.

"There's a lot of professional pride of workmanship that's intense amongst providers here," he said. "Our patients are getting premium care and our Airmen are excited about it."

Pedalino and Bryant are both quick to shed the limelight and move the attention elsewhere, to places like the dental instrument processing center, where their instruments are prepared.

Staff Sgt. Raymond Gordon is the NCO in charge of the DIPC where he works to see that all dental instruments are sterilized and functioning. This year alone he and co-worker Senior Airman Austin Jarrett have processed nearly 200,000 instruments for personnel without a single negative chemical reading.

The requirement for biological testing is to be done weekly, but Gordon - like the rest of the squadron - takes things the extra mile. Instead, he said he doesn't allow an instrument to be released until they have passed a daily reading.

"It's safer protocol," Gordon said. "I want the best product and treatment used for every patient."

From a patient's first stop at the front desk to the final checkup after undergoing a major surgery, Bryant said the 35 DS puts a priority on people and are always working as one.

"We could not accomplish what we do without close understanding and communication between the staff and patients," said Pedalino. "I am really proud to be a part of this clinic."

Maybe a visit to the dentist isn't so bad after all.