Working

by Tom Molony

For Dental Technician First Class (DT1(AW/SW/FMF)) Patricia Gonzalez, RDH, of the U.S. Navy, practicing dental hygiene has taken her all over the world. Surrounded by multiple dentists, periodontists, and dental technicians, she is the lone dental hygienist aboard the USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which can house up to 5,200 sailors, crew, and personnel while on battle deployment. Gonzalez's commitment to dental hygiene goes hand in hand with her duties as a member of the U.S. military.

Gonzalez, a 17-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, began here career in oral health when she enlisted in the military after graduating from high school in San Antonio, Texas in 1985. Her first job was as a dental technician. Three years later, the Navy developed its dental hygiene program and began searching for active duty enlisted members to cross train into the new career field. Shortly thereafter, Gonzalez became one of the first Navy dental hygienistsÑalready having had the experience as a technician performing numerous cleanings, providing chair side assistance to dentists and periodontists, and instructing patients on proper oral hygiene.

"I decided that I wanted to be more successful," Gonzalez said. "And dental hygiene is a challenging and rewarding [career]."

Gonzalez reentered the classroom in May 1998 for the beginning of a two-year program of Navy "C" school training at Pensacola Junior College in Pensacola, Florida. She says that though the instructors from her dental hygiene school were the strictest ones she had run across during her entire enlistment. The program earned her an associate's degree and prepared her for the national board exams to become a registered dental hygienist, which she considers to be one of her greatest learning experiences in life.

"One of the things that I find fascinating is that now I am a provider just like a dentist is," Gonzalez says. "I like that I have the opportunity to treat a patient one-on-one, where before it was only the dentist doing it."

As the sole dental hygienist aboard a ship the size of a large town, Gonzalez routinely sees at least eight patients each day in 45-minute increments per appointment. Even though overtime pay does not exist in the military, Gonzalez routinely works extended hours or skips her lunch in order to accommodate as many patients as she can.

"The biggest challenge is that we don't have enough hygienists in the Navy," Gonzalez says. "As much as I try and see everyone I can, it's impossible for me to [do so]."

Yet, these sacrifices don't come with out rewards. Gonzalez has been named the most productive dental hygienist in the Navy's Chief in Command of Atlantic Forces Fleet (CINCLANT), which treats as many as 2,500 sailors each year.

Gonzalez also is extremely busy during her off-duty time, serving as a member of the USS Enterprise's Dental Health Promotions Committee. The committee distributes oral health kits and information to sailors throughout National Dental Hygiene Month in order to spread the word about improving oral health. In addition to volunteering at local homeless shelters and food banks for the needy, Gonzalez also dedicates some of her time to reaching out to area grade school children and educating them on the importance of proper oral hygiene.

With Gonzalez closing in on retirement from the military, she has no desire to leave dental hygiene behind her once she steps out of her Navy uniform for the last time.

"The great thing is that I have a degree and a profession," Gonzalez says. "I'll be able to retire with no problems. I intend to [pursue] the dental hygiene field into civilian life.