Incirlik AB Dental Office provides Space-A care to dependents

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Caleb Pierce
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Is your family in need of dental care and trying to get an appointment? Well, a new space-available program is in full swing at the 39th Medical Group Dental Clinic here.

The new program has been set up to allow for more opportunities for family members to be seen who are not active-duty which typically could not be seen due to low staffing. The program however does have requirements to take into consideration.

"Space availability will be determined by the access to care days for active duty members," said Col. Andrew Meadows, 39th Medical Group commander. "Access to care days are calculated on a monthly basis and may fluctuate depending on uncontrollable events."

With space-available care, it is important that patients show up for their appointments.

"A no-show appointment will be recorded in the dental patient record if the patient fails to show up at the appointed time," said Meadows. "The dental clinic reserves the right not to give a scheduled appointment after two no-show appointments, cancellations with less than 24 hours, or one of each."

Space-available care provides exams, cleanings, simple extractions and routine restorations which can be completed in a single appointment.

It is important to note that multiple appointments for one procedure do not qualify for space available.

With the care available, the dental clinic tries to ensure the best health care for all families.

"Patients requiring treatments that are not safely and efficiently delivered as space-available must seek care from an alternate source," said Meadows. "I am very confident in the off-base dental care available here."

Family members are encouraged to contact the dental clinic to make an appointment and if no appointment is available, the patient will have the option to add their name to a waiting list for an opening.

"As long as we are able to meet our mission requirements the dental clinic will accommodate as much of our dependent population as possible," said Lt. Col. Tansel Acar, 39th Medical Group Dental Flight commander. "With better manning, the dental clinic wants to give back to our small community and provide as much dental care in-house as possible."

For more information, contact the 39th Medical Group Dental Clinic at 676-6104.