What’s Happening?
Australian Army dentists have been testing their ability to deliver dental care under challenging military conditions during Exercise Pozieres Run.
The Army’s 1st (Australian) Division held its annual warfighter exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area and across central and northern Queensland.
Dental personnel trained in combat dress and body armour, preparing for emergency dental trauma cases and simulated mass-casualty situations.
Among those involved was Captain Tiarnee Iddles, a dental officer from Darwin-based 1st Health Battalion, part of the Army’s 2nd Health Brigade.
Why It Matters
Military dentistry requires personnel to manage routine dental procedures while preparing for injuries and emergencies that can arise during military operations.
Army dental officers and assistants also work alongside other healthcare professionals, taking on responsibilities beyond those typically encountered in civilian dental practices.
Captain Iddles explained how this teamwork shapes military dental care.
“Being able to work as a wider health team within the hospital set-up is definitely something you wouldn’t normally do in a civilian practice, and being able to manage dental trauma and dental emergencies a lot quicker and better than you might do in a civilian practice as well,” she said.
Local Impact
The exercise included activities across central and northern Queensland, with Army dental personnel working under operational conditions.
Captain Iddles said dental teams could provide routine treatment within a military hospital setup while preparing for emergencies involving injured personnel.
Key Points
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A rifle strike could knock out a tooth: Army dentists prepare to treat dental trauma, including knocked-out teeth, and carry specialised oral surgery and trauma kits.
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A portable dental surgery fits inside a box: The Smart-Port system contains two dental drills, suction equipment and an ultrasonic tooth cleaner.
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Dentists can assist during mass-casualty emergencies: Army dental officers may help move patients or provide medications, while dental assistants support patient movement.
Zoom In
Alongside emergency preparations, Army dental teams continued providing routine clinical treatment during the exercise.
Captain Iddles described the procedures they had undertaken.
“We can see everything that you’d see in a normal dental clinic. We’ve been doing a few dental checks and cleans, and then we’ve had one patient with a little bit of dental pain. So pretty much anything you can do in a normal clinic we can do here,” Captain Iddles said.
She also explained why military dental teams carry specialised equipment and provide additional training to other healthcare professionals.
“The patients we see are typically dental trauma cases. For example, a rifle to the face might potentially cause the tooth to be knocked out, so that’s why we pack a lot of oral surgery kits and trauma kits, and also provide education to medical officers and other health professionals so they’re able to manage those types of cases,” she said.
The smaller, lighter Smart-Port system also enables 2nd Health Brigade’s dental teams to deploy more quickly and become operational in less time than previously required.
Zoom Out
Beyond military exercises, Army dentists also help maintain the dental readiness of serving personnel.
Captain Iddles described the importance of this work during her service in Darwin.
“What I find most rewarding in Defence is being able to give back to local communities,” she said.
She highlighted the dental care provided to NORFORCE soldiers, who can present with complex dental conditions.
“For example, up in Darwin, we’re able to do work with our NORFORCE soldiers, making them dentally ready. They can come to us with a wide variety of complex dental conditions.”
What To Look For Next?
Following Exercise Pozieres Run, Captain Iddles said she would travel to Alice Springs to provide dental services through a placement with NT Health.
The placement will involve providing dental care within a remote community.
“During placements with NT Health, we also go to remote communities. For example, I’m going to Alice Springs after this and providing a dental capability within that community.”
