Scheduling multiple dental visits will soon be unnecessary for most U.S. soldiers, thanks to the Go First Class (GFC) program being implemented by the U.S. Army Dental Command (DENCOM).
Under the new initiative, soldiers will receive routine oral care procedures, including exams, cleanings, tooth varnishing, and simple fillings, in a single appointment.
The program addresses several pillars of the Army Medicine 2020 campaign plan, including prevention, wellness, and readiness, according to Col. Bryan Kalish, director of healthcare delivery at DENCOM.
GFC pilot programs are currently in place at Fort Bliss, TX, and Fort Gordon, GA. Results show significant reductions in the number of soldiers who are dentally nondeployable (class three or four). At the same time, the number of soldiers with no dental treatment needs (class one) is on the rise.
Bundled services, combined with a shift to scheduled appointments, enable dental teams to treat more patients and increase overall satisfaction. With GFC most soldiers only need to visit the dentist once a year, according to DENCOM. Workload models predict up to 1.25 million hours of time will be returned to unit commanders army-wide as a result of the initiative.
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