Air Force dental course ensures mission readiness Published Sept. 25, 2019 By Laurri Garcia 59th Medical Wing JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 59th Dental Training Squadron prosthodontics flight hosted approximately 20 dental specialists, on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sept. 16, 2019, for the U.S. Air Force’s Prosthodontics update course. This is the third consecutive year for the training, but this year, under the direction of the dean of the Air Force Dental School, the course incorporated a new readiness training component for Airmen the 59th Dental Group which include field dentistry, surgical skills and a dental forensics exercise. “This readiness exercise has visibility by the consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for Expeditionary Dentistry,” said Maj. (Dr.) Ryan Sheridan, 59th DG surgical prosthodontics director. "Under his guidance we are using this aspect of the course to fulfill the requirements for the Airman's Comprehensive Medical Readiness Plan." In order to maximize the utilization of resources expended by the 59th Medical Wing and Air Education and Training Command, this year's training effectively ran three courses at the same time. "Last year, each of these courses were a separate entity held over a few months and we did not have the readiness piece to it,” added Sheridan. “This year we consolidated redundant training and added the readiness training." Each course attendee has the added benefit of gaining experiences from the best exercises of all three courses. Upon completion of the course, clinicians earn 68 continuing education hours and enhance their level of training for the AFDS.