Overview

The cost of starting and maintaining a dental practice can be substantial. If you are a recent graduate with student loan obligations, this cost can be prohibitive. As a member of the Army Dental Corps, you can enter a stimulating existing practice with no start-up costs and begin treating patients without waiting to build a patient base.

Job Duties

• Examine, diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and defects of teeth, jaws, oral cavity and supporting structures to ensure that each Soldier is in optimal oral health
  
• Conduct and supervise direct patient care, and plan and execute disease prevention and health promotion programs
  
• Exercise command of medical units as provided by law and regulation
  
• Perform special staff functions in health support for commanders at all levels
  
• Conduct medical research on diseases of military importance, and conduct, supervise and participate in graduate medical education and training of other medical personnel needed to sustain a robust and readily available medical system
  
  

Unique duty positions include: General Dental Officer; Unit Dental Surgeon; Clinic Chief

Requirements

Active Duty

• Doctorate from an American Dental Association—accredited dental school in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada
  
• Between 21 and 42 years of age (health care professionals ages 43 to 60 are now eligible for a two-year service contract under the Officer Accessions Pilot Program)
  
• License to practice dentistry
  
• U.S. citizenship
  
  

Army Reserve

• In addition to the above qualifications, permanent U.S. residency is required for Reserve duty officers.
  

Training

In the Army Dental Corps, the case diversity dentists experience in caring for our service men and women far exceeds the medical care environment of the private sector. As an Army Dental Corps officer, you’ll have access to the most sophisticated technology, the opportunity to consult with experts in both the military and private sector, plus exceptional professional growth opportunities, including paid continuing education, clinical specialization and residencies.

Newly appointed Army Dental Corps officers who have not had postdoctoral residency training are designated General Dental officers. Upon completion of residency specialty training, the General Dental officer will acquire an advanced specialty designation.

Helpful Skills

Army Dental Corps officers must be leaders skilled in tactics, techniques and procedures in order to understand and support the Soldier; possess strong Army values, leader attributes and skills; and fully understand the key leadership actions that must be taken to ensure success.

The Army Dental Corps offers a broad spectrum of opportunities. Every officer learns and trains to be a fully capable team member, gaining expertise and experience in diverse specialties and skills. Dentists gain this knowledge through continuing medical education and experience sustained by mentoring, additional institutional training, continuous self-development and progressive levels of assignments within their specialty.

Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.

Compensation

Active Duty
In addition to the many privileges that come with being an officer on the U.S. Army health care team, you’ll be rewarded with:

• A Health Professions Bonus
  
• Health Professions Loan Repayment
  
• Variable Specialty Pay
  
• Board-Certified Pay of
  
• Dental Additional Special Pay
  
• Dental Officer Multiyear Retention Bonus, based on specialty and length of contract
  
• 30 days of paid vacation earned annually
  
• Noncontributory retirement benefits with 20 years of qualifying service
  
• No-cost or low-cost medical and dental care for you and your family
  
  

Army Reserve

• Special Pay
  
• Health Professionals Loan Repayment toward qualified dental school loans
  
• Noncontributory retirement benefits at age 60 with 20 years of qualifying service
  
• Low-cost life and dental insurance
  
• Travel opportunities, including humanitarian missions
  
  

Both active and Reserve duty officers enjoy commissary and post exchange shopping privileges; a flexible, portable retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k); paid continuing education; and specialized training to become a leader in their field.

Education Benefits

Active Duty
Army Dental Corps officers enter a ready-made practice without having to worry about insurance forms, malpractice insurance or the overhead of supporting an office and a staff. The U.S. Army also provides generous education loan-repayment programs, residency programs and continuing education opportunities to support your continued career growth and development.  

Army Reserve
One of the many advantages of becoming a member of the U.S. Army Reserve health care team is that you’ll be able to focus on patient care instead of dental school loans. By continuing to practice in your own community and serving when needed, you may qualify for HPLR to repay your medical school loans.

Future Civilian Careers

As you advance through your career, you will be looking for experiences that blend teaching, research and clinical excellence to best prepare you for unique and challenging opportunities. Our dentists excel in clinical, research and executive administration arenas. Many have worked in more than one career track throughout their time in the U.S. Army and have held leadership positions ahead of their private sector counterparts. In fact, U.S. Army dentists are highly desired candidates for competitive private sector jobs upon leaving the Army.