SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Monday July 4, 2011

Photo by MC3 (SW) Jared M. King

Fit to Bite,

Fit to Fight!

the Page 3Monday, July 4, 2011

Enterprise NewsSHUTTLE

By MC1 (AW) Elizabeth L. BurkeUSS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea - As the deployed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) continues its 21st deployment, its Sailors and Marines are already looking ahead to the day they arrive back at Naval Station Norfolk. Thanks to Big ‘E’s Dental Department, when that day comes, they will be leaving the ship with picture perfect smiles. Following Enterprise’s motto of ‘Ready on Arrival,’ its Dental Department has maintained a 97 percent readiness level for the past 22 months, one of the highest of any carrier in the fleet. While deployed, the Enterprise Dental Department cares for more than 4,000 Sailors and Marines of Carrier Strike Group Twelve. Its staff of seventeen personnel consists of three general dentists, one comprehensive dentist, one oral surgeon, and twelve dentally trained Hospital Corpsmen. The staff treats, on average, 50 to 60 patients per day, taking care of a wide variety of dental needs. “It’s a winning team right now and it shows,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Theresa Somers, the department’s senior enlisted leader. With new state-of-the-art equipment installed during Enterprise’s last shipyard availability, the clinic can provide everything that a civilian dentist would, from the required annual examinations to cleanings, x-rays, restorations, crowns, bridges, root canals and extractions.

Military dental patients are divided into four categories. Class 4 patients have not had an examination within the past 12 months; class 3 patients have urgent treatment needs that could cause a dental emergency in the next 12 months; class 2 patients have minor treatment needs that should not cause a dental emergency in the next 12 months; and class 1 patients with no dental treatment needs. Reducing class 3 and 4 patients and maximizing class 1 patients is the focus of dental readiness. “Teeth are very important,” said Hospitalman (SW) Marion Meads. “I have a new respect for dentistry.” Although some dental problems are hereditary in nature, it is most important to establish and practice good dental hygiene habits. Brush after every meal and floss at least once a day. Couple good dental hygiene habits with a healthy diet that limits sodas and sticky, sugary foods will also contribute to good overall dental health. “No matter how much you brush, if you don’t eat a good diet, you are going to get cavities,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW) Don Fields. For some people, going to the dentist is an uncomfortable experience, so much so that they often avoid it until they have a dental emergency. The Enterprise dental staff works with these “dentally challenged” patients to change their perception of dental treatment.

“Our greatest compliment is to have the patient falls asleep during treatment. When it comes to tooth pain, nine times out of 10, it does not get better,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (SW) Lorrin Baker. Enterprise also serves as the treatment hub for other ships in the strike group, like the cruisers and destroyers that have only a limited dental capability. During the deployment, Enterprise has treated patients from the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), USS Mason (DDG 78), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), and the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Stuart (FFH 153).

“Dental readiness, like all the other command readiness metrics, ensures that Sailors and Marines will not be distracted from their ability to support the mission due to a dental problem,” said CAPT Steven Clarke, the senior dental officer. “We ensure dental readiness while optimizing dental health. Remember, if fit to bite, then they’ll be fit to fight!” Due to the upcoming post-deployment leave periods, the dental department encourages crew members due for their annual dental exam to stop by dental now to schedule an appointment before the ship returns to home port.

Enterprise dentists keep Sailors fit to bite, fight

Lt. Jared A. Geller, a dentist, injects anesthesia into Chief Information Systems Technician Ulyssa A. Johnson’s gums in order to perform a tooth restoration during a dental examination aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

Photo by MC3 (SW) Jared King

the Monday, July 4, 2011Page 4 SHUTTLE

27 Claret and burgundy28 Japanese sauce29 Moments34 Indigo dye35 Big bang producer36 Prefix with space37 Sheets and pillowcases40 Mideast state42 Aloha State bird43 Staggered44 Decisive conflict

Across1 Set upon9 Give new hands15 Cargo quantity16 Show clearly17 Pregnant18 Aquarium fishes19 Cold War thaw20 “___ Resartus” (Carlyle)21 Elvis Presley film23 “Carrie” star

48 Rip into49 Chaotic54 Ark berth55 Asian part of Turkey56 Illusory sight57 Habitus58 Hit hard59 Bridge supports

FUN ZONE!Down1 Under cover? 2 Dial sound3 Delicate use of words4 To ___ (just so)5 Sour note6 Heyerdahl raft7 Polished off8 1950s White House monogram9 Holds back10 High point11 The same12 Become a member13 Not ___ in the world14 French article20 Fragrance22 Showed delight23 Attempt24 Window division25 In the thick of26 Summons30 Swiss river31 Oscar-winner Patricia32 Beech or birch33 Completely convinced35 Article of faith38 Furious39 Brought to nought40 Archaeological period41 The S of SPQR44 Airy rooms45 Brings up46 Bathtub murder victim47 Eatery50 Drop down?51 Airline from Lod52 Feudal address53 Impudence54 Band booster55 Gallery display

Photos by MC3 (SW) Jared M. King

Sailors of the DayYeoman 3rd ClassSamantha A. Schmidt - Urbana, Mo.

YN3 Schmidt, a yeoman assigned to Enterprise’s Reactor Department, joined the Navy three years and two months ago “to serve my country and travel.” To Schmidt, the most rewarding aspect of her job is seeing new countries and people and having the opportunity to provide aid to them. Schmidt aspires to go to nursing school and plans to become a registered nurse in the future. In her spare time, Schmidt enjoys reading and listening to music. She plans to “ride my horses and spend time with my family” when she returns from deployment.

LS2(AW/SW) Michael Chandler, a tool control coordinator and IMRL manager assigned to the “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 11, joined the Navy nine and a half years ago to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. To Chandler, the most rewarding aspect of his job is “knowing that I am making my family proud and setting a good example for my son. He has someone to look forward to like I did with my grandfather.” In his spare time, Chandler likes playing any kind of sport with his son Justis and hanging out with his family.

Logistics Specialist SeamanMichael Chandler - Margate, Fla.