Working as a Military Dentist in South Africa

Theesan Vedan studied at the University of The Western Cape in January 2013. He has since taken up a position as a Military Dentist for the South African Defence.

Theesan is dedicated to pursuing a career in dental education and has a keen interest in writing, be it dental related or not.

At the end of this year, I will vacate my posting at the Oudtshoorn Military base, a small, rural Afrikaner town in the further reaches of the Western Cape, South Africa. I have served a year of community service dentistry to the base. I wish to share some of my experiences and tips when dealing with patients at this base.

Even the big guys come in shivering

Recruits, Majors and even Generals can come into the dental office whimpering and crying like babies. These are hardy guys, and some of them I have seen have fought in the red-zone in Iraq and Afghanistan. I remember a Major, in particular, who was white in the face and sweating profusely before coming into my office. My tip is to calm them down and reassure these patients just as you would any human being. 

Be aware of ranks and address the patients as such

Soldiers, especially, the high ranking ones don't enjoy being verbally demoted during treatment. Make sure you address the patient by their correct rank.

Decide on whether you wish to serve as a civilian or as a uniformed officer

Serving in a civilian capacity shields you from military duties and obligations (eg fitness tests). However, being a uniformed member opens up many benefits (such as access to military clubs, and military provided health care). In South Africa- this is free for the uniformed member as well as all his/her dependents.

Unique dental challenges

I always question my patients on their deployment status (as to whether they will soon be deployed).  You need to be aware of procedures requiring multiple visits. As soldiers, may soon be posted to far off bases with no access to proper dental assistance. It is unfortunate, but practical, that an extraction may be required rather than an indirect pulp cap, or starting endodontic treatment.

Be able and willing to travel (sometimes on short notice)

This applies to you, mostly if you wish to serve in uniform. Uniformed persons are often called out to attend training and educational courses as well as military briefings. As you progress up the hierarchy, expect these meetings to be more frequent, as higher rank officers are charged with more administrative duties.

Administrative responsibilities

There is much red-tape surrounding the military. Something as simple as a referral to a specialist, can take weeks if not months to process as they need to pass through the appropriate channels.

Self-Expression

Military service demands uniformity. You will be strictly judged on uniformity and sticking to the prescribed text. It can be quite tedious and depressing at times, but this is the way of military units.

An Opportunity to Learn and partake in something different

This year, I've seen military parades, watched tankers, learned about parabats and even mercenaries. Some of my other colleagues have caught lifts in cargo planes and one even got to ride in a submarine.

Exposure to patients from a wide spectrum

I work at a training base, where recruits brought in from all over the country, gather for their 'breaking-in'. I have thus seen a wide spectrum of patients, from many races and many provinces. And I have conversed with them, greatly broadening my general and geographical knowledge.  I have also, picked up pieces of a few languages. Remember as a dentist you don't have to know a full language to communicate with patients- just a few phrases, such as 'Open your mouth'. You can easily impress patients and get by with two or three dentistry focused language classes.

A job in the military, certainly, has its challenges, but also has great rewards. I thoroughly enjoyed my time served in Oudtshoorn. For a young dentist, wanting exposure to something exciting- with the opportunity to sometimes travel, a career as a serviceman/woman remains a very good choice.

Theesan Vedan
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