FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 3, 2014) -- After closing three years ago, the Love Dental Clinic is now open with a new makeover and advancements in technology for a variety of dental services.
Col. Grant Perrine, officer in charge for the clinic, said the 35-year-old building needed an upgrade in technology and repair from damages caused by a fire in August 2011. Contractors completed the project in May after a 14-month renovation. The grand opening for the clinic was held Aug. 11, he said.
"If you had been in this building before, you would recognize the outside but you would not recognize the inside," Perrine said. "They did a complete gut job on the building. It's laid out much better and it was an outstanding job done."
Located at Building 9240 on Hoff Street, south of the commissary on Marne Road, the clinic provides all aspects of dentistry for active-duty Soldiers, from routine hygiene and general dentistry to specialty care in endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, and prosthodontics.
Compared to its design in the 70s, Perrine said the clinic provides computers in every operating area. Some of its new features include central sterilization machines to provide better infection-control services for staff and patients, 3-D digital X-ray capabilities, microscopes for endodontics and computer-assisted crown restoration machines.
Perrine said computers and other technology needed to support the clinic today were not available when the clinic first opened.
"It's been updated to provide support for the techniques and technology we have today," he said.
Perrine said the 64-chair clinic is now one of three clinics across the Army that provides four specialties of dentistry and supports dental residencies through an advanced one-year general dentistry program.
"We have hosted residency programs for over 50 years, but we finally have a state-of -the art facility to do that," he said.
With approximately 70 military and civilian staff members, the clinic supports 6,000 Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, Army Marksmanship Unit, MEDDAC and other units across the post. Perrine said fast and efficient service is now a huge advantage for patients.
"We have something called Go First Class, which is a new program where Soldiers are able to come in and not only get a dental exam, but a dental cleaning in one appointment and possibly minor restorative work," he said. "We try to make sure we have their appointments within 21 days and accommodate them as best we can in our specialty and general dentistry care."
Hours of operation for Love Dental Clinic are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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