U.S. military families relocating to Guam may have problems getting dental care because there reportedly aren't enough dentists to accommodate them, according to a story in the Army Times.
According to a U.S. Department of Defense's inspector general report published in July, Guam has only 43 civilian dentists, not enough to servethe nearly 11,000 family members and 28,000 temporary workers expected to move to the island when the Navy and Marine Corps relocate several units from Okinawa, Japan, according to the report.
Military families in Okinawa have access to military dentists because it is a foreign duty station, the Times noted. But Guam is considered to be a domestic duty station for dental purposes, which means family members must see civilian dentists for dental care.
Guam is the only Far East location classified as a domestic duty station for dental purposes by the U.S. military.
Guam's governor believes more dentists will move to the island because of demand, according to the Times.
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