By Cpl Tracy Tillman
Dental officer manning levels are at an all-time low, according to the Director Defence Force Dentistry Col Geoff Stacey.

He said the loss of retention incentives, such as the opportunity for full-time schooling and no clear career path, saw dentists separating from the services for more attractive civilian employment.

At a recent meeting of the Senior Dental Officer Advisory Group, the team had looked at ways of strengthening the dental services, including greater cooperation between the dental branches of the three services in order to remain viable for the future.

“Manning levels are at a record low, to the extent that there are currently only 4 ARA captains for 15 positions,” he said.

“For dental to remain viable major changes will have to occur.”

As Director Defence Force Dentistry, Col Stacey views the role of ADF dental units as vital to maintaining an operationally effective force.

“The role of dental officers is to minimise dental casualties in the Defence Force through prevention and pre-deployment preparation as well as maintaining a deployable dental capability.”

Dental care had become the unsung hero of individual preparedness with medical issues taking the limelight in the health arena.

A toothache could be just as debilitating as many other types of casualties.

He said the dental branch could take great pride from the effectiveness of their efforts at reducing the logistic burden of casualty evacuations in recent operations.

Dentistry in the ADF offered variety and challenges not experienced by private dental practitioners.

The opportunity to gain additional qualifications in areas applicable to the ADF has in the past been a powerful incentive to retain dental officers in the Services.

For example, the experience of ADF Dental Officers has been called on to provide assistance in a number of crises, including the Thredbo Landslide, the Bali Bombing, the Childers Backpackers Fire, numerous road and small aircraft accidents and the Black Hawk disaster.

“The ADF is a good training ground for dentists – an excellent first employment opportunity.

“The goal is to retain these dentists once they have gained additional skills and experience in the military because that is when remuneration packages offered by civilian employers become very attractive.

“The much-awaited Dental Officer Career Structure due to go to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal in April will hopefully achieve this goal.”

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