Dental Specialist (68E)
Enlisted
Officer
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
- Open to Women
- Entry Level
Overview
The dental specialist is primarily responsible for assisting Army dentists in the examination and treatment of patients, as well as helping to manage dental offices.
Job Duties
- Prepare dental operatory; select and arrange instruments; measure and record temperature, blood pressure and pulse, and assist dentist during patient exams
- Assist with administration of anesthesia, and in placement and removal of sutures
- Prepare restorative and impression materials
- Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and operate resuscitative equipment
Training
Job training for a dental specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 30 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practicing dental care tasks. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field.
Some of the skills you’ll learn are:
- Preventive dentistry
- Dental office procedures
- Radiology (X-ray) techniques
- Dental hygiene procedures
Helpful Skills
- Interest in biology and chemistry
- Enjoy helping others
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Ability to follow spoken instructions and detailed procedures
Required ASVAB Score(s)
Skilled Technical (ST) : 91Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.
Compensation
Total compensation includes housing, medical, food, special pay, and vacation time. Learn more about total compensation.
Future Civilian Careers
The skills you learn will help prepare you for a future at dental offices or clinics. You’ll be qualified to assist dentists in the treatment of patients, as well as provide support as a dental assistant or dental hygienist.
With your extensive Army training and some additional study, you may qualify for certification with either the American Medical Technologists as a registered dental assistant or with the Dental Assisting National Board as a certified dental assistant.
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- Being an Army Dental Specialist
BEING AN ARMY DENTAL SPECIALIST
I’m Staff Sergeant Elizabeth Mozingo and I’m up here at the AMEDD Center of School in the 68 Ecko Branch in the swamp, where we do our dental assisting for our Soldiers. Being a dental specialist in the Army primarily means you’re assisting a doctor, normally a captain. Your primary duties is to come in and you’re going to assist the doctor with whatever procedure he is doing, you’re going to take x-rays, you’re going to do sterilization, and you’ll do pretty much everything in the clinic. You will constantly be pulled to do different duties but mainly your primary duty is to be an assistant to the doctor. So the first thing you will do when you come in is you just get your patient ready for the procedure you’re going to be doing and you assist the doctor in whatever procedure he’s going to be doing. Being a 68 Ecko you’re also going to be required to do sterilization, take the x-rays and help out with any other additional duties that are required in the clinic that you are going to be working at.
