For weeks, Neelab was unable to speak or eat comfortably due to toothache.

“There was an Afghan who needed urgent care,” recalls US Navy Captain Jerome Ragadio, Task Force Liberty surgeon. “She has braces and the floss of her braces was sticking out and going inside her cheek. She was clearly in pain.

Neelabs’ dental health was no longer a priority as the safety landscape in his home country changed.

“I had to change the threads in Afghanistan,” Neelab said. “Suddenly we received an email to evacuate us. “

The evacuation postponed her routine dental appointment indefinitely.
“I was scared and I knew I couldn’t go [to the dentist] because all the highways have been taken by the Taliban, ”Neelab said. “I had to wait.”

Neelab was also unsure whether his Afghan dentist would be able to continue practicing dentistry.

After a trip of 16 days and over 6,800 miles later, Neelab’s braces, designed to improve his orthodontic health, were now causing him serious problems.

The protruding wire rubbed his jaw and created a sore in his mouth, Neelab described. Then the pain radiated throughout his head, down his neck, and into his arm on one side.

As no dental service was available yet, Ragadio received the phone call asking him to help Neelab. Although serving in the role of TF Liberty’s surgeon, Ragadio has been a dentist for 17 years.

We were fortunate to be able to deal with this case, Ragadio said. I knew I would be able to provide the necessary assistance.

Ragadio used his relationship with the 87th Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Medical Group to obtain dental wax to cover the exposed orthodontic floss to protect Neelab’s cheek.

Although the problem only required a simple fix and occurred in about five minutes, it averted a more serious medical issue.

“In that case, it would have continued to squeeze her cheek and possibly cause lacerations and excessive bleeding,” Ragadio said.

Neelab also appreciates the pain relief and care she received from Ragadio.

“He’s been very helpful,” Neelab said. “It was really amazing.”

Ragadio was also grateful that he was in the right place at the right time to provide assistance, even if it was beyond his core mission.

“It means to me that I was able to use my skills,” said Ragadio. “I really enjoyed it. Even though I am not here in this capacity, I was able to use my dental skills.