U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Barry Bena

Capt. Steve Mescher, the Integrated Support Command Miami Dentist, and Magnolia Egemen, the dental assistant, clean a patient's teeth during his examination at the ISC Miami clinic Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. The clinic provides physical examinations, immunizations and clinical laboratory, pharmacy and referral services to other treatment facilities for specialty care.  View and download this image from the Coast Guard Visual Information Gallery.

by Capt. Donald C. Belcher, DMD, MS, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Dental Officer 

U.S. Coast Guard photo by
Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael De Nyse

Coast Guard Capt. Michael Korale, senior dental executive at the Coast Guard wing Tripler Army Medical Base, performs a dental exam on a Coast Guard member, Feb. 7, 2011. View and download this image from the Coast Guard Visual Information Gallery.

If you’ve ever looked at your personal view in Coast Guard Business Intelligence, which gives a snapshot of your personal readiness, you’ll notice that dental readiness is a key measure used to determine individual deployability. Fifty eight Coast Guard dental officers, commissioned by the U. S. Public Health Service (PHS), are instrumental in helping active duty and select reserve members meet mission readiness goals.

Keep your smile bright and your readiness in the green by visiting your local clinic yearly for your dental exam.