Fact Sheets

Army Dental Corps

A REWARDING CAREER

WHAT THE ARMY DENTAL CORPS HAS TO OFFER

If you’re committed to personal and professional growth; if you think you’d like to practice dentistry in state-of-the-art facilities and work with some of the best leaders in the field of dentistry; if you want to take advantage of outstanding recreational travel opportunities; if you want to be a leader; if financial security is important; if you’d like to serve your country as well as your patients, then the Army can offer you more than any private practice, clinic or hospital can.

We offer a select few commissions in the United States Army Dental Corps.

THE PERFECT PRACTICE

NO START-UP COSTS

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 an Army Dentist, you can enter a stimulating existing practice with no start-up costs, and begin treating patients without waiting to build a patient base.

AN OFFICER

Regardless of your dental experience, you will enter with the rank of at least Captain. You will work with a diverse patient population, and perform a variety of dental procedures in a clinic setting, and possibly in a field environment.

In addition, you will enjoy all the prestige and privilege of being an officer in the U.S. Army. This includes being a respected member of your community and having access to a wide variety of travel opportunities and recreational facilities.

PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED STAFF

As a member of the Army Dental Corps, you will be surrounded by highly skilled professionals, some of whom are leading authorities in their fields. You will benefit from the combined knowledge of these dental teams. The Army also trains enlisted dental assistants and hires a number of trained civilians, maximizing the team concept.

TRAVEL ABROAD

The Army maintains modern dental facilities around the world, in countries as diverse as Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan and Korea. It affords you the kind of travel opportunities no civilian practice can match.

FINANCING YOUR DENTAL EDUCATION

HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

If you are currently a student at an accredited dental school, or are applying to or have been accepted by an accredited dental school, the F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offers you a unique opportunity for financial support. This program permits selected students to be commissioned as officers in the Army Reserve.

While completing school, you receive a monthly stipend of $1,992 for 10 ½ months each year. For the remaining 1 ½ months, you will be on active duty for training, and will receive the pay and allowances of a Second Lieutenant. This training program is usually performed at an Army health care facility. If your academic program does not allow time away from school, arrangements may be made to allow you to continue your studies while performing your active duty for training at school, and still be paid your active duty pay. Tuition and certain other expenses will also be paid by the government. Qualifying dental students are also eligible to receive a $20,000 sign-on bonus.

The Army will pay:

100 percent of your tuition
For your required books
For rental of non-expendable equipment
For most academic fees
A monthly stipend of $1,992 for 10 ½ months per year
Full pay and allowances as a Second Lieutenant for 1 ½ months per year

To be eligible for this program, you must be a citizen of the United States, be enrolled in an accredited dental school in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, and meet the prescribed eligibility criteria for appointment as a commissioned officer.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS

ACCESSION BONUS FOR DENTAL CORPS OFICERS

Dentists who did not receive an HPSP scholarship may receive a $75,000 accession bonus for joining the active Army. If you qualify, you will receive a lump sum payment upon assignment to your first permanent duty station after completion of Officer Basic Leaders Course.

HEALTH PROFESSIONS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

This program provides up to a maximum of three years of repayment of qualified education loans. Payment is made in increments of approximately $40,000 annually for each year of participation. Active duty obligation is three years.

ADVANCED EDUCATION IN GENERAL DENTISTRY 12-MONTH PROGRAM

If you are a dental student in your senior year, you are no doubt considering specialized training or are looking for a means of better preparing for a general practice. Maybe you are a recent dental school graduate looking for additional specialty training and clinical experience.

Each year The Surgeon General of the United States Army offers an opportunity to recently graduated dental students to seek professional advancement through the Advanced Education in General Dentistry 12-Month program (AEGD 12-Month). This one-year program offers selected graduates opportunities for diverse clinical experiences and advanced training at the graduate level. In one short year, you’ll gain considerable experience in the following major areas of dentistry:

Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
Oral Pathology
Periodontics and Preventive Dentistry
Public Health
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Prosthodontics
Orthodontics
Restorative Dentistry and Dental Materials
Endodontics
Pedodontics

This program is designed to give you the chance to practice ideal dentistry and assume increasing responsibility for total patient care. You will work with a teaching staff of highly qualified and experienced Army Dental Corps officers. The Army is committed to giving you the best training possible in state-ofthe-art facilities. Participants in the AEGD 12-Month normally begin their Army careers with the rank of Captain and receive all the benefits associated with that rank. If selected for this program, you will train at prestigious Army dental facilities at one of these locations: Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Jackson, S.C.; or Fort Sill, Okla.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to apply for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry 12-Month program, you must:

Be 21-40 years of age. Dentists 40 years of age or older may apply for an age waiver
Be a citizen of the United States
Be enrolled in the senior year at an accredited dental school or have graduated from an accredited dental school within the past three years
Meet the prescribed medical standards
Be of high moral character

CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALTY

DENTAL SPECIALTY RESIDENCIES

The Army Dental Corps emphasizes dentistry as a complete health care system. Nearly all dentists who make the Army a career receive specialty training. That’s why we pioneered an Advanced Education in General Dentistry 24-month program (Comprehensive Dentistry). We also offer experienced dental officers specialty residences in:

Endodontics
Periodontics
Prosthodontics
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Public Health
Pedodontics
Orthodontics
Oral Pathology

The Army Specialty Residency Programs are second to none. All are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and meet the requirements of the Dental Specialty Boards. The Chief of Service in each of our residency programs is certified by the appropriate Specialty Board, with all program associates either board-certified or board-eligible.

In addition, we employ outstanding military and civilian consultants who have important roles in every program. In fact, the percentage of Dental Corps specialists who are board-certified far exceeds the percentage in the civilian community.

If you are qualified, you can get your training in certain specialties at some of the best civilian institutions in the country. These specialties currently include Oral Pathology, Public Health Dentistry, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry.

FELLOWSHIPS

The Army Dental Corps also offers qualified Dental Corps officers opportunities to attend fellowship programs, such as Hospital Dentistry, Dental Materials and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics.

SPECIAL PAY

Those who qualify will receive extra pay incentives as an active duty Dental Corps officer:

Variable Special Pay – paid monthly and based on years of creditable service, with annual rates ranging between $3,000 and $12,000.
Board Certification Pay – paid monthly and based on years of creditable service for Dental Corps officers who are board-certified, with annual rates ranging between $2,500 and $6,000.
Additional Special Pay – for Dental Corps officers who accept a one-year extension to their current military obligation and have served on active duty a minimum of three years. Annual rates range between $10,000 and $15,000.
Dental Officer Multiyear Retention Bonus – based on specialty and length of contract. Annual rates range between $13,000 and $50,000.

KEEPING YOUR EDGE

CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION

In dentistry today, sharpening your skills and keeping abreast of the latest techniques is imperative. That’s why all Army Dental Corps officers are encouraged to attend at least one professional dental meeting each year, at government expense.

Along with the opportunity to update their knowledge at national meetings, officers are continually exposed to ongoing professional education. Guest speakers, professional study clubs, and individual specialty clinical rotations are organized to provide at least 30 hours of continuing education each year.

When you’re ready to take your board certification examination, the Army will pay your expenses, so finances will not stand in the way of your professional advancement.

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

OPPORTUNITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD

The Army Dental Corps offers you a wealth of benefits and life experiences you couldn’t get with any other health care organization. Among those benefits are unique opportunities to broaden your perspective and enjoy new, exciting cultures through travel. You could work in many locations within the United States as well as overseas.

The Army maintains up-to-date dental clinics in countries like Belgium, Germany, Italy, Korea and Japan. Wherever you’re assigned, you’ll enjoy all the personal advantages you would receive in the United States, such as quality schools, post housing or a housing allowance, and post exchange and commissary shopping privileges. Plus, you will find people with whom you share both professional and personal interests.

You’ll also find that most Army installations have a number of recreational facilities available, such as community clubs, golf courses, tennis courts, theaters, libraries, swimming pools, fitness centers and a variety of specialty stores.

Should you decide to move to different positions or locations within the Army Dental Corps, you don’t have to worry about losing pay, benefits, or seniority. You will retain all the rights and privileges that come with your rank and experience.

THE REWARDS OF SERVICE

AN OFFICER AND A DENTIST

As an Army dentist, you’ll enjoy all of the rewards that come with practicing dentistry, as well as the rewards of being a United States Army officer. You’ll maintain an excellent standard of living. The Army offers you and your family the following benefits:

No-cost or low-cost medical and dental care
30 days of paid vacation time earned annually
Post exchange (department store) and commissary (grocery store) shopping privileges
No-cost or low-cost recreation activities through community clubs, sports facilities and theaters
Non-contributory retirement after 20 years of qualifying service
Post housing or tax-free housing and subsistence allowance
Low-cost life insurance
Thrift Savings Plan – an additional mobile retirement savings and investment fund similar to a 401(k)

Add to these benefits the pride and security of being a member of one of the largest health care organizations in the United States, and you’ll see that a career in the Army Dental Corps could indeed be a very rewarding one, for you and your family.

JOINING THE ARMY HEALTH CARE TEAM

STEP INTO A PROMISING FUTURE

Now that you have seen how you can serve your patients as well as your country, consider joining the Army Dental Corps — a team of skilled professionals who take pride in their practice and the uniform they wear.

To qualify for a commission in the Army Dental Corps and become a member of the Army Health Care Team you must be:

21-40 years of age at the time of application. (Dentists 40 years of age or older may apply for an age waiver)
A U.S. citizen
Of high moral character
Physically qualified
A graduate of an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited dental school in the United States or its territories, Puerto Rico or Canada
Licensed to practice dentistry in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories

For additional information, contact your local Army Health Care Recruiter at 1-800-USA-ARMY or visit our Web site at healthcare.goarmy.com.