What’s Happening?
Australian Army dental teams have been testing their ability to treat patients under challenging military conditions during Exercise Pozieres Run.
The Army’s 1st (Australian) Division held its annual warfighter exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area and across central and northern Queensland.
Dental personnel trained under pressure in combat dress and body armour, preparing for simulated mass-casualty events and emergency dental trauma scenarios.
Among those involved was Captain Tiarnee Iddles, a dental officer from Darwin-based 1st Health Battalion, part of the Army’s 2nd Health Brigade.
Why It Matters
Military dentistry involves more than routine check-ups and dental procedures. Dental officers must adapt their clinical skills to demanding operational environments, where injuries and treatment conditions can differ from civilian practice.
The exercise also provides opportunities for dental personnel to work alongside other healthcare professionals within a military hospital setup.
Captain Iddles explained how this differs from civilian dentistry.
“Being able to work as a wider health team within the hospital set-up is definitely something you wouldn’t normally do in a civilian practice, and being able to manage dental trauma and dental emergencies a lot quicker and better than you might do in a civilian practice as well,” she said.
Local Impact
At Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Army dental personnel worked within a military hospital setup, providing routine dental treatment while preparing for emergencies associated with tactical operations.
The exercise also allowed dental officers and assistants to practise supporting other healthcare professionals during simulated mass-casualty events.
Key Points
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A rifle strike can cause serious dental trauma: Army dentists prepare to treat injuries such as knocked-out teeth and carry specialised oral surgery and trauma kits.
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A portable dental surgery fits inside a box: The Smart-Port system contains two dental drills, suction equipment and an ultrasonic tooth cleaner.
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Dentists can assist during mass-casualty emergencies: Army dental officers may help move patients or provide medications, while dental assistants support patient movement.
Zoom In
Army dental teams provide many of the same treatments available in civilian clinics, including dental checks, cleans and treatment for dental pain.
Captain Iddles said personnel had already handled routine dental needs during the exercise.
“We can see everything that you’d see in a normal dental clinic. We’ve been doing a few dental checks and cleans, and then we’ve had one patient with a little bit of dental pain. So pretty much anything you can do in a normal clinic we can do here,” Captain Iddles said.
However, military dentistry also requires specialised equipment and preparation for injuries associated with tactical operations.
“The patients we see are typically dental trauma cases. For example, a rifle to the face might potentially cause the tooth to be knocked out, so that’s why we pack a lot of oral surgery kits and trauma kits, and also provide education to medical officers and other health professionals so they’re able to manage those types of cases,” she said.
One of the Army’s key capabilities is the Smart-Port dental system, a compact portable unit designed for deployment in military environments.
Smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the system allows dental teams to deploy more quickly and become operational in a fraction of the time previously required.
Zoom Out
Army dental personnel also provide healthcare support beyond major military exercises, including services for soldiers and remote communities.
Captain Iddles said the opportunity to help others was among the most rewarding aspects of Defence service.
“What I find most rewarding in Defence is being able to give back to local communities,” she said.
She described working with NORFORCE soldiers in Darwin to support their dental readiness, including treating soldiers who present with complex dental conditions.
“For example, up in Darwin, we’re able to do work with our NORFORCE soldiers, making them dentally ready. They can come to us with a wide variety of complex dental conditions.”
What To Look For Next?
Following Exercise Pozieres Run, Captain Iddles said she would travel to Alice Springs to provide dental services through a placement with NT Health.
She explained that these placements also allow Army dental personnel to support remote communities.
“During placements with NT Health, we also go to remote communities. For example, I’m going to Alice Springs after this and providing a dental capability within that community.”
The upcoming placement will take Captain Iddles from military training into community-based dental care.
