Working

Access, Feb, 2008 by Meghan Washington

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Carol Cowart, RDH, works at the McConnel Air Force Base in Kansas. Interestingly enough, dental hygiene was not her first career.

Cowart has a math degree from the University of Texas in Austin. She worked as a computer programmer for a National Aeronautics and Space Administration contractor in Houston, Texas for four years, then as a wife and mother has lived in several cities for more than 20 years. When she arrived in Lubbock, Texas she went back into the job market again.

After trying several possibilities, she found herself working at the front desk of a dentist's office. During that time, she became interested in pursuing a dental hygiene education. The dentist supported her pursuits and promised her a job when she finished.

She began taking classes at South Plains College in Lubbock and Levelland, Texas for her prerequisites. After about two years, she began her dental hygiene education and, as her previous employer had promised, she had a position waiting for her when she graduated. She worked there for 10 years.

"I started putting my resume out on the various [dental hygiene] sites and even on Monster.com, which turned out to be the site from which her next position came from," said Cowart. "A company in San Antonio, Texas (The Healing Staff) contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in working as a contractor for the Air Force. The Healing Staff had an immediate position with McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan. I took the job, sold the house, rented a huge truck, packed and moved to Wichita."

This position has proved to be unique, because "unlike a civilian dental clinic, the purpose of this position is to keep the Air Force airmen deployable," she said. "They are required to have an annual exam (and cleaning) and to get their dental work done. Our job is to try to make sure that any condition that might cause them problems within the next 12 months is taken care of. Unlike the civilian dentist who can say, 'If this gives you any problems, give me a call,' our patients may find themselves in any of many, many different locations where dental services may not be available. I work in a clinic of five dentists each with two assistants. I am the only registered dental hygienist there."

Working for the Air Force has required that Cowart learn about rank and the "chain of command." She is also required to understand their extensive record-keeping methods and to comply with numerous Air Force rules concerning dental caries risk status, treatment requirements, etc. (see box below).

There have been some unique challenges for Cowart in this working environment; for example, she said, "There is a great deal of paperwork and tests and medical requirements. The paperwork never ends, and must be done perfectly, as it will be inspected by someone above you at some point. Meetings are regular and required. Infection control is strict and regulated.

Records must be updated and filed correctly. The airmen are required to come to the clinic and are reported if they miss an appointment without notification. Those requiring serious dental work are not allowed to cancel appointments--they have to stay deployable. They understand that, and so do we. There is annual testing on everything from hand washing to emergency drills to environment of care and CPR."

She is basically able to set her own schedule, which means that she is allowed to recall patients if she needs to, or to take more than the usual hour for an appointment based upon the patient's need.

Cowart added that in the future, the Air Force will be using registered dental hygienists for one half of their prophylactic staff, rather than one out of four or five as is currently the case. The Air Force is encouraging prophylaxis technicians and periodontal technicians (on-the-job trained employees) to go to dental hygiene school and return to the service to serve their time as hygienists.

"The Air Force will provide some compensation and scholarships, and it might be a way to get your hygiene education paid for if you were willing to serve in the Air Force after graduation," explained Cowart. "Many of the dentists avail themselves of this opportunity: the Air Force pays a portion of their education, and they commit to the Air Force in exchange."

Beyond a great dental hygiene position, Cowart has found a sense of community in the Air Force. "This job has made me acutely aware of the contributions of the servicemen and the patience of their families. Many of my patients are returning from a lengthy deployment or are on their way to that deployment. It's tough for them and their families, and they face it with grace and assurance. We need to thank them from the bottom of our hearts."

This edition of Headquarters was prepared by Meghan Washington.