title: Expanding a professional dental care system: experiences of Task Force 261 Multifunctional Medical Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09.
abstract: During Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09, Task Force 261 Multifunctional Medical Battalion managed an extensive dental care system stretching throughout the Iraq theater of operations. We illustrate several of the unique challenges faced by Task Force 261's headquarters and its dental and area support companies, and describe the remedies emplaced by the Task Force. Personnel structure, the evacuation chain, supply and facility management, dental civil-military operations, detainee care, information technology applications, and public health initiatives are discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Task Force 261 Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Christopher
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: Craig G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel; D011313:Preventive Dentistry