The Army's Socialist Dental Care

So, it's been about 10 months since my last checkup for my choppers and I decide I need to take some action. I've been in the field for extended periods of time during training over the last year without brushing or flossing for days which means, I definitely have some nice tartar build up, and maybe even the beginnings of a couple cavities (unfortunately).

So, I've never had to setup an appointment before here on post, but I figure I can just call and ask for a routine checkup and cleaning just like I used to do when I was a civilian. Here begins the Commie mayhem. First, there are like 6 dental clinics on post assigned to different groups of soldiers. Because I am a student in the Q Course, I don't really have a "group" I belong to. This results in the receptionist getting really confused as to which clinic to send me to. Now remember, this receptionist doesn't receive payment for customer service, nor does must she worry about clientele numbers and generqting income for her boss, the dentist. So, of course she blows me off and tells me to call anothe clinic and ask them. So, I begin calling other clinics and after about the fourth reeptionist that tries to pass the buck to another clinic, I am finally told that the correct clinic is indeed the first one I called (Joel Clinic) HOW IRONIC. I proceed to speak once again with the original receptionist who then tells me that I can't setup an appointment over the phone, I have to come in person and show my ID and verify my unit.

The next day... Now, it's my lunch break, and I go in to setup an appointment for a cleaning and a routine checkup, easy right? Wrong. The receptionist asks, "what seems to be the nature of your problem. I reply, "nothing really I just need a cleaning and check up". She says, "well we don't set up appointments for that, you must come as a walk-in in the afternoon, and you will only be able to do an exam because we don't do cleanings with exams on the same day." I couldn't believe it, but I have become a very patient man so I say, "okay what days and times?" she answers, "Monday thru Friday from 12:00-2:00." Now, I only get an hour lunch break and I can't just take a day off to go to the dentist here in the Army, so how is this supposed to work? I will have to wait in a long line for depending on how many other people need to be seen, and by the time I get in I'll have to leave for work again. Well, I have become quite the patient man in dealing with bureaucracy since being in the Army, and living in socialist Italy for two years so I decide to give it a shot the next day. Guess what happened? I waited in line for an hour and had to leave bc my lunch break was over. I wasn't suprised, it was what I expected. So, I go back to the receptionist, and explain my situation, and ask how is it possible that I can't simply setup an appointment time like I would do at a normal clinic, and she replied "this is the Army son, get in line." I could not help but laugh while leaving. As I was leaving, to my great fortune, a nice, young, and very pretty I might add, hygienist who was watching the drama unfold, pulled me to the side and explained to me a way around the system... Ha Ha!

So, this morning I filled out a "sick call" slip which is what we would use to see a doctor when we are ill. But on the sick call slip I wrote, "toothache" which means I would see the dentist instead. The dentist did a routine examination, and took some xrays, and proceeded to inform me that I have two small cavities, and could use a cleaning. He also says that if the pain doesn't go away soon to come in to sick call again, at which I point I confessed my little white lie to which he laughed and said "Yeah, welcome to Socialist Medical Care".

All of this to say, this Commie medical may be a guarantee, but the service is horrible. My Dentist (for today) was a decent fellow, but what motivates him? He doesn't get paid any more if he does a good job or bad job. He doesn't have to worry about his reputation. I more than likely will be seen by another dentist on the day of my filling and cleaning. Is this the kind of Health Care that the Democrats want? Yes. Is this the kind of health care that U.S. citizens want? I hope not. I know there is a health care crisis in our country, but surely socializing it is not the best solution.

By the way, when I went to set up my follow up appointment, I can only do the cleaning or the filling in one day, and then I have to return for the other. I didn't even bother to ask why. It would make too much sense for the Army Socialist Health System to do them both in the same day.