The Dental Corps

Established in August 1912, the Dental Corps first consisted of a small cadre of dental surgeons who enabled the Navy to accept recruits who would otherwise be rejected for defective teeth. Over the last nine decades, the Dental Corps has matured into a world-class dental health care organization setting a high standard for excellence, research, health promotion, and prevention. With just over 1,000 officers, the Dental Corps provides care for not only for Sailors, Marines, and military families but to needy civilians as part of humanitarian assistance missions around the world. Today, with superb support from Navy Hospital Corps dental technicians, Medical Service Corps officers, Navy civilians, and Red Cross volunteers, the Dental Corps continues building on the accomplishments of its predecessors and carries its proud tradition into the future.