DECS: experts in the technical side of dentistry: solving operational issues and providing guidance in the dental community.

The USAF Dental Evaluation and Consultation Service (DECS), formerly known as the Dental Investigation Service, was established in 1976. The organization solves "operational problems" for the dental community and provides guidance on dental techniques, procedures, equipment, materials, and facility design.

Based on requests from the field, DECS performs independent clinical and laboratory testing of equipment and materials, including infection control and safety products. These tests help clinics determine the best product, design, or procedural solution to meet the quality care needs of their patients and provide the safest working environment for staff members. Nonmilitary dental professionals can also review the results of these tests via the DECS Web site at http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/decs.

Assigned to the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks City--Base, Texas, the DECS is physically located at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois, and shares facilities with the Naval Institute of Dental and Biomedical Research and the Army Dental and Trauma Research Detachment.

The DECS consists of four operational sections:

* Materials Evaluation Section--provides laboratory and clinical-user evaluations of products, such as dental amalgam and impression materials.

* Equipment Evaluation Section--evaluates items such as dental chairs, units, and sterilizers and deals with issues related to digital radiography.

* Facility Standards and Design Section--reviews plans for building new dental clinics or renovating/ remodeling existing facilities.

* Infection Control and Safety Section--deals with issues related to infection control and safety, as well as administering the Federal Services Dental Infection Control Course.

In addition to evaluation and testing, DECS also supports dental education and training.

The DECS supports dental training programs through continuing education (CE) lectures and technical assistance for investigations that contribute to those training programs. In addition to dental product evaluation information, visitors to the DECS Web site will find dental infection control information, dental literature reviews, and CE lectures. In fact, United States federal government personnel can obtain accredited CE hours through the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program, Academy of General Dentistry, Dental Assisting National Board, or National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology by reviewing a lecture and passing a post--test.

For over 30 years, DECS has provided free, easily accessible information on dental products and procedures to military and civilian dental professionals. They offer unbiased, practical, and tangible solutions to operational problems, as well as advice and guidance to all personnel in the federal dental services. The DECS is committed to being the "Go To" information source for the federal dental services, but its professional reach extends much further. The DECS is arguably the "Go To" information source for dentistry ... period!

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CMSgt Jody Hanks is the Dental Manager, 81st Dental Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS. He has served as an Air Force dental assistant for 24 years and oversees the day-to-day operation of a 69-chair dental clinic and 10-man dental laboratory. He is also responsible for the training and professional development of 96 dental assistants, hygienists, laboratory technicians and administrative staff. In addition to Associate of Applied Science degrees in Dental Assisting and Health Services Management, Chief Hanks has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Master of Science in Information Management Technology from Grantham University.

NOTE: Please see Association Bulletin on page 46 to see who the Air Force Dental Service named as 2008 Outstanding Dental Assistants.