Lessons from the Navy with Dr. Greg Grillo

Not every dentist has treated patients while the room was literally swaying. For Dr. Grillo, life as a Navy Dental Officer meant caring for Marines, Sailors, and leaders at sea, sometimes while tethering his chair with a rope to keep it from rolling away. Years later, that same calm under pressure defines how he leads, mentors, and inspires others across the dental profession.

quip: What first inspired you to join the U.S. Navy and serve as a Dental Officer?
Dr. Grillo: Like many families, several of my relatives served in major conflicts, including World War II. I felt a calling to serve, and I joined the Navy Dental Corps at a time when more dentists were needed to meet operational needs.  I also knew I’d embark on an adventure, but I had no idea how many remarkable experiences I’d pass through. I spent time in South Carolina, Japan, Washington D.C., Rhode Island, Korea, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea. I served during peacetime, but the military never rests. Dental care plays a significant role in operational readiness, so Navy healthcare teams bear considerable responsibility at all times. 

quip: Was there a single day or patient interaction in the Navy that changed how you think about care?
Dr. Grillo: Battling sea sickness on the Pacific command ship in the South China Sea, the Commanding General of the Marine Corps, Pacific Forces, broke an upper left molar. It fell on me to take care of the discomfort that pulled him away from a busy day. He told me he had been shot in Vietnam and would rather take another bullet than get his tooth fixed; but we made it through, as the ship tossed and turned. He thanked me for a job well done, and then he returned to directing a vital exercise that was underway. I realized that from a child to a General, dentistry keeps people's lives and missions going. It’s not too much to say that what we do is essential on a human and global level.
 
quip: What unexpected skill from military life became most valuable once you owned a thriving, multi-provider practice?
Dr. Grillo: I’ve always enjoyed leadership, but the Navy sharpened my skills. You’re reminded in officer’s training that you’re a Navy Officer first and a dentist second. If a ship takes a hit, you hang up the handpiece and help secure the damage. I served as a Division Officer for a team of 35 enlisted personnel at my clinic in Japan, where I learned to juggle various staffing assignments, leave requests, discipline, continuing education, and more. That experience gave me more confidence when I took on and grew a busy family practice with two doctors and three full-time hygienists.
 
quip: Finish this thought: “The Navy taught me that great dentistry is really about….
Dr. Grillo: taking care of someone like lives depended on it. In the military, that’s not an overstatement.”

quip: Was there ever a dental situation in the field or at sea that pushed your skills — or your patience — to the limit?
Dr. Grillo: As a young dentist thrown into military dentistry, I served at a large Marine Corps recruit depot, Naval Air Facility Atsugi Japan, and on the USS Blue Ridge. Every environment presented unique challenges: the 18-year-old with decay in every tooth who hadn’t ever seen a dentist; the F-18 pilot who couldn’t risk being grounded due to complications from a dental visit, working on a crew at sea under rough conditions that required a rope to keep my chair from rolling too far away.  The diversity of environments and procedures significantly enhanced my skills in a few short years, which in turn helped me provide more effective care when I entered private practice.

quip: Looking back, is there something you wish the profession — or the public — did differently to support veterans in dentistry?
Dr. Grillo: I love to see a Veteran’s discount in any business, but that’s not widespread in dentistry. You rarely hear stories about dentists serving overseas, accompanying advanced trauma life support teams in hostile situations, or working in makeshift clinics. I’d love to see the profession and the vendors honor military clinicians who help protect our freedom with critical services.

quip: Would you agree that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off? In what ways do you continue to serve today, for example through mentorship, innovation, or community work?
Dr. Grillo: No question about it! Serving in the U.S. Navy will always be one of my most cherished roles; it’s hard to describe the bond you develop with your military team in faraway places. I’ve recently enjoyed volunteering at a Veteran’s Home and interacting with some of our nation’s heroes. Some of them date back to WWII, and it’s a privilege to sit with them and talk about their lives, hearing their stories. Sometimes that’s all they need to light up their day. If I make it that long, I hope someone does the same for me someday. 

This Veterans Month, quip proudly salutes the dental professionals who continue to serve, in every practice, every patient interaction, and every smile.