Dorset dentist drills on the front line
A dentist from Dorest is providing vital dentistry services to soldiers and local people in Afghanistan.
Lt-Col Ian Mercer, of Winterbourne Stickland, is working as part of the Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) in Camp Bastion Hospital.
He believes that dentistry plays a pivotal role in the military and his motto is “if you can’t bite you can’t fight”.
His role involves maintaining British forces high standard of oral health, as this means fewer servicemen will become affected with dental problems when serving abroad.
While the Camp Bastion Hospital is equipped like any normal British dental practice, RADC staff are also expected to work in dramatic circumstances, in basic conditions.
Lt-Col Mercer also offers his services to local Afghan villagers that live in Helmand province and says that helping people without access to dental care is personally and professionally rewarding.
He is also veteran, serving patients in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq and has also worked in Germany, Dubai and the UK.
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