CG, PAF Remarks

33rd Asia Pacific Dental Congress

Defence Forces Dentistry Forum 2011
Fellowship
PAF Aerospace Museum, CJVAB, Pasay City
04 1600H May 2011

Talking About Mans

Best Asset: TEETH
(Appropriate greetings)

WORTH OF OUR TEETH

When it comes to human anatomy, many pundits

believe that the hands are the most unique and efficient
component of the human body. But so does our teeth
which enable us to express profoundly our gladness
through those wide greensthat allows us to express
the warmth of a friendly gesture and permits us to enjoy
the gastronomic blessings in our dining tables. Being one
of the hardest parts of the human anatomy, it is
responsible

for

several

important

bodily

functions.

Mastication makes it possible to break up hard and large

objects, but it also crushes even small materials so that
acids in the stomach can reach them more easily. A
blender could do the job, but would we want to eat our
hamburgers as milk shakes for the rest of our lives? I
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guess not. We would want to enjoy every bit and piece of

Gods bountiful blessings hence, inasmuch as we would
like to keep our physical bodies in its highest state of
well-being, the same attention must be given to that
part of the human body which according to average,
chew at a rate of 1500 times a day.
Our teeth are also essential for communication.
Many sounds depend on the teeth, and whistling is
nearly impossible without them. Many people are
familiar with how toothless individual sound, and then
how normally they speak when given full dentures. Any
person who has been deprived of their teeth due to
injury, disease, or surgery can testify how basic teeth
are, and how even normal conversation is impaired when
they are gone.
It may seem less important, but our teeth also play
an important role in the structure of the face. A person
not missing any teeth has a healthy and useful jaw line,
while missing teeth cause the lips to depress, creating a
shriveled face hence, older appearance. There is no
need for a young man, or anyone for that matter, to
appear

old

and

unattractive,

especially

to

us

servicemen. We look confident, decent and respectable if

our teeth are intact. Now I understand why some people

joke about the song of Barry Manilow I Cant smile

Without You.

Kidding aside, it is self-evident that you know by

heart the importance of our teeth. You wouldnt be good
dentists if you dont know all of these. And you simply
wouldnt be here, in the 33rd Asia Pacific Dental
Congress Defence Forces Dentistry Forum 2011 if
that eagerness to champion the cause of dental health
care is not present in your kind hearts.

Congratulations then to all of you for this wonderful

chance to learn something useful and for having this
special opportunity to be with other experts in the dental
field,

particularly

those

from

the

Defense

Forces

Dentistry.

UNDERSTANDING FORENSIC DENTISTRY

Your theme for this year, Advancing Dental

Health Care and Disaster Management in the Asia
Pacific Region, is a practical and opportune response
to recent events globally. I actually have to do some

research to have a better grasp of one of your focuses

on this forum the forensic dentistry.
In my research, I have learned that some supposes
forensic odontology as the intersection of the law and
the science of dentistry. Others simply state that it
happens when dentists assist law enforcement in solving
crimes. Although a thousand dentists throughout the
world call themselves forensic odontologists or forensic
dentists by virtue of study, training, and experience, I
think nearly every dentist has the basic knowledge
required to perform a dental identification the staple of
forensic dental practice. Many dentists have assisted in
making dental IDs by providing the dental records that
are so often referenced in the news the authorities
are waiting for dental records to positively identify the
remains.

I came to know that forensic dental practice also

includes the evaluation of bite injuries in both victims
and perpetrators of crimes and in animal attack cases as
well as evaluation of oral and cranial trauma related to
child, spouse, and elder abuse. Some forensic dentists
also consult in dental malpractice and dental injury
cases. In fact, willingness to and a bit of flair for
testifying in court can separate those who continue to
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accept forensic cases from those who do a few cases

and drop out. Finally, forensic dentists provide needed
and, oftentimes, invaluable service in mass disaster
situations and events -- like airline disasters, war crimes
excavations, the World Trade Center, the 2005 Tsunami,
Hurricane Katrina, catastrophic earthquakes in Haiti,
New Zealand and lately in Japan.

Dental identification has a long and storied history.

Some of the earliest recorded cases were that of Paul
Revere who recognized his own dental handicraft in the
mouth of a fallen Revolutionary War hero. There was also
the case of the Bizarre de la Charite fire in the 1890s
when

an

American

dentist

and

Cuban

dentist

practicing in Paris teamed up to help other dentists and

themselves recognize their own restorative work in
scores of women and children who perished.

Since then, advances in dental health and treatment

have heralded similar advances in forensic dental
identification. The improved dental health of the public
coupled with improved access and vastly improved
dental products results not only in improved dental
services but, most importantly, in a greater proliferation

of known evidence with which to compare the

unknown remains.

BE PROUD TO BE DENTISTS!

The bottom line here is that you have created a

niche that is as important as the roles of those who
conquer the vast dimensions of the skiestread along
the rugged and perilous mountains and jungles of those
operating on the ground and those who scour the wide
and deep blue oceans. We need your supportyour
enthusiasm and your unparalleled expertise which allow
the thousands of soldiers, airmen and sailors smiling
more than ever.

I have highest regard on your profession because

you have chosen to serve those who preserve the peace
and are pillars of progressthose who are vanguards of
justice, unity and solidarity. Aside from your role being
critically important to succor to the needs of the men in
uniform, William Shakespeare underscored in his play
Much Ado About Nothing that: For there was never
yet

philosopher

patiently.

that

could

endure

the

toothache

Only you have the answers to our most

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pressing dental concerns that affect us in more ways

than one.

May I similarly lay emphasis on the importance of

having every dental practitioner in this hall working hand
in hand towards better and advanced dental health care
and disaster management in the Asia Pacific region. The
aspect of shared objectives and vision has acquired
greater relevance following worldwide events. Nowadays
truly call for increased collaboration and more dynamic
relationships to efficiently and effectively serve our
fellowmen.

I personally believe that there is much that you can

learn from each other, and further that there is much
that you can all contribute to enhance your relations.
Creative ways continue to exist that we can all adopt to
move beyond the ordinary and onto more vigorous
exchanges that can strengthen not only our relations but more so the well-being of our nation, our region
and ultimately the world.

With all of you acting as point men of your

respective organizations, I have no doubt that you can
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slowly but surely initiate the much needed changes for

the better and along your common interests in the field
of dentistry. While our battles have taken us in the
farthest corner, in the deepest jungles and in the most
precarious places here and abroad, you need not be in
these areas to create that impact in the lives of the
many. Your battles are for the benefit of those soldiers
who would want to maintain that healthy smile that only
you can provide. Never cease helping usnever lose
that zeal and never lose that kindling spirit to provide
your soldiers with the best dental health care possible.
This is my callthis is my challengeI beseech that your
expertise be used fully to benefit the well-being of those
who toil in the skies, forest and the highest seas for
there are more wars to be won.

And be assured of the Philippine Air Force support in

all your worthy endeavors.

With that, maraming salamat and God bless us all.