Dental Corps

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Please send all questions/inquiries related to Navy Medicine Dental Corps to: usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.dental-corps-chiefs-office@health.mil

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How can I become a part of the Navy Dental Corps?

Thank you for your enthusiasm and desire to be involved with the Navy Dental Corps. While our office does not place volunteers, service members, or hire civilians, we appreciate your interest. Below outlines different avenues to pursue a bright career with the Navy Dental Corps!

Navy Dentists can enjoy an accelerated career experience working at the best military dental facilities on shore, at sea and in the field.

Specifically, you may be called upon to:

• Practice routine dentistry on military service members and their families, including routine examinations, restorative and preventive care
• Work with cutting-edge dental technology, such as digital imaging systems, CAD/CAM, and innovative dental restoration materials
• Humanitarian missions

Navy dentists are stationed at military treatment facilities, clinics, and hospitals located within the United States and various overseas locations. Additionally, Navy dentists can be assigned to a multi-specialty dental clinic, a large teaching hospital, with a Navy Construction Battalion (“Seabees”), Marine Corps battalions (Fleet Marine Forces), or an amphibious assault ship, aircraft carrier, or hospital ship. Navy dentists provide direct support to Sailors and Marines and deploy in support of combat operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance missions, providing the best care our nation can offer ashore and afloat.

The diverse options available following the initial operational or utilization (OP/UT) tour in the Dental Corps can be summarized in four "tracks". These tracks distinguish differences in job experience categories: (1) Administrative; (2) Clinical; (3) Operational; and (4) Education/Academic. A successful career includes assignment to positions from multiple tracks and serves to broaden experiences. After the initial tour of either an AEGD, GPR or Credentialing program, an operational assignment with Fleet Marine Forces (FMF) or Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO), or Naval Construction Battalions (Navy Seabees) could be available to you. Many dentists will seek to pursue specialization through clinical residency training. The residency training period and the specialty utilization tour following the completion of training provide two advantages; (1) familiarity with the readiness and operational dental mission, and (2) the opportunity to establish a record of competence and professionalism in their field.

Specialties Comprehensive dentistry Dental and biomedical research Dental public health Endodontics Advanced Clinical Practice in Exodontia Maxillofacial prosthetics Operative dentistry Oral and maxillofacial surgery Oral and maxillofacial pathology Oral medicine and radiology Orofacial pain Orthodontics Pediatric dentistry Periodontics Prosthodontics

 

As a college student or accepted/enrolled in Dental School?

• If your interest is to join the military either active duty (full time) or reserve duty (part time), your local Navy recruiter would be able to assist with any questions you have as per the process.
  Please visit: https://www.navy.com/careers/dentist or call 1-800-USA-NAVY
   

Direct Accessions Bonus

• Currently practicing dentists and dental students may receive a sign-on bonus from $75,000 up to $400,000 if you qualify. Offers have many variables depending on specialty and service requirement.*
  
  *Please note that the specifics of this offer depend on specialty area. Be sure to contact a recruiter for detailed information.

HPSP/HSCP Scholarships

• Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP)
  • HSCP can provide anywhere from $157,000 to $269,000 while attending dental school.
    *Navy HSCP housing allowance based on dental school location. Increased offer amounts available in areas with a higher cost of living.
  • This program provides a monthly military salary at the E-6 pay grade, generous housing allowance (dependent on location), and a comprehensive benefits package while attending dental school, but does not cover the cost of tuition, in return for service as a Navy dentist after graduation.
  • The time spent in HSCP while in dental school does count towards the 20-year requirement for retirement eligibility.
  • Participants incur a year-for-year of Active-Duty Obligation, serving a minimum of three years.
    *Please note that the specifics of this offer depend on specialty area. Be sure to contact a recruiter for detailed information.
• Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP)
  • HPSP scholarships are for four- or three-year periods and pays 100% full tuition and all required fees. This includes reimbursement for textbooks, small equipment items and supplies needed for study. You can also receive a monthly allowance of over $2700 for living expenses. You must be a U.S. citizen enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an ADA-accredited dental school. Participants incur a year-for-year of Active-Duty Obligation, serving a minimum commitment of three years, and begins after you complete dental school.
  • Provides up to a $20,000 bonus (taxable) paid in three increments between first and second HPSP monthly stipend phase. Active-Duty Obligation in conjunction with HPSP is 4 years, regardless of length of HPSP participation. The HPSP AB obligation is served concurrently with the HPSP Active-Duty Obligation.
  • You will be commissioning into the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) during your time in dental school.
  • Historical monthly allowance amounts can be found at:
    • https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/HPO12/
  • Basic Allowance for Housing Rate Lookup
    • https://www.travel.dod.mil/allowances/basic-allowance-for-housing/bah-rate-lookup/

As a currently practicing Dentist or Dental Specialist?

• If your interest is to join the military either active duty (full time) or reserve duty (part time), your local Navy recruiter would be able to assist with any questions you have as per the process.
   
• Please visit: https://www.navy.com/careers/dentist or call 1-800-USA-NAV
   

Direct Accessions Bonus

• Currently practicing dentists and dental specialists may receive a sign-on bonus from $75,000 up to $400,000 if you qualify. Offers have many variables depending on specialty and service requirement.*
• Offers for Practicing Dentists (Active Duty)
  • Practicing dentists interested in Active Duty service may qualify for incentives ranging from sign-on bonuses to extra pay for certain specialties to up to $150,000 in loan repayment assistance through the Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP).*
• Offers for Practicing Dentists (Reserve Duty)
  • Practicing dentists interested in Reserve service may qualify for incentives ranging from specialty pay to sign-on bonuses to loan repayment assistance through the Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP).*
    *Please note that the specifics of this offer depend on specialty area. Be sure to contact a recruiter for detailed information
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
  • If you’re employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the PSLF Program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you’ve made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan, and while working full-time for an eligible employer.
    • Qualifying employment for PSLF: U.S.-based government organizations at any level (federal, state, local, or tribal) – this includes the U.S. military!
• For more information on the PSLF program, please visit:
  • https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Interested in pursuing advanced dental training after dental school?

• PGY-1: AEGD and GPR Opportunities
  • Navy offers Post Graduate Year One (PGY-1) Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and General Practice Residency (GPR) Programs in the following locations:
  • AEGD
    • NAVY MEDICINE READINESS AND TRAINING COMMAND, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
    • NAVY MEDICINE READINESS AND TRAINING COMMAND, CAMP PENDLETON, CA
    • CAPT JAMES A. LOVELL FEDERAL HEALTH CARE CENTER, GREAT LAKES, IL
    • NAVY MEDICINE READINESS AND TRAINING UNIT, NORFOLK, VA
    • NAVY MEDICINE READINESS AND TRAINING COMMAND, SAN DIEGO, CA
• GPR
  • NAVY MEDICINE TRAINING COMMAND, CAMP PENDLETON, CA
  • NAVY MEDICINE READINESS AND TRAINING COMMAND, PORTSMOUTH, VA
  • NAVY MEDICINE READINESS AND TRAINING COMMAND, SAN DIEGO, CA
  • WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER, BETHESDA, MD
• Specialty Training
  • Background: The Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery convenes a selection board to recommend Dental Corps (DC) officers for assignment to full-time residency training programs and postdoctoral education and training programs annually. Full-time in-service (FTIS) residency training programs are conducted at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, Maryland (MD), various military hospitals, and other Federal institutions. A limited number of full-time out-service (FTOS) residency and postdoctoral education and training programs are available in civilian universities and institutions. The needs of the Navy determine the programs available for training and number of trainees projected for each program.
  • Residency Training Programs: In-service residency training programs train dental officers for the needs of Navy and Marine Corps beneficiaries. Out-service residency training programs supplement in-service residencies or provide training in specialty areas not available in military training programs. All residency training programs must meet the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA/CODA) certification requirements when applicable. Board certification is essential to specialty practice in Navy dentistry and dental officers selected for any residency program funded by the Navy, whether it is an in- service or out-service program, are expected to pursue board certification.
  • Fellowships: Based on the needs of the Navy, fellowships may be approved for specified dental specialties. All dental fellowship training programs must meet the ADA/CODA certification requirements when applicable.
• Will the Navy help supplement my residency pay as a Dental Resident?
  Financial Assistance Program*
  • The Navy Financial Assistance Program (FAP) is designed for dentists in residency and fellowship training in select Critical War Time Specialties in which Navy Medicine has manning needs and provides potentially over $275,000 during a typical four-year dental program.
  • Receive an annual grant potentially over $45,000 on top of any residency-based salary.
  • Monthly stipend for participants to cover living expenses.
  • Participants are in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) while in the program.
  • Participants receive a Reserve ID Card, which allows entry on military bases, commissary (grocery store), exchange (department store) and recreational facilities.
  • Participants incur a year-for-year of active duty obligation, serving a minimum of 2 years.
• Navy Active-Duty Delay Specialists Program*
  The Navy Active-Duty Delay Specialists (NADDS) program allows graduated dental students or Navy dental officers the option to defer the fulfillment of their active duty obligation for dental school in order to receive graduate residency education in a critical shortage specialty in the civilian sector.
  • Participants are in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) while in the program.
  • Participants receive a Reserve ID Card, which allows entry on military bases, commissary (grocery store), exchange (department store) and recreational facilities.
  • Participants receive pay and compensation from the civilian educational facility, not the Navy.
  • Upon completion of the authorized residency training the participant starts or resumes active duty to complete the deferred period of active-duty obligation or for 2 years, whichever is longer.
  • Note: Naval Officers in the Navy Active-Duty Delay for Specialists (NADDS) Program may apply for FAP.
    *Please note that the specifics of this offer depend on specialty area. Be sure to contact a recruiter for detailed information.

• FAQ

• This is Navy Medicine Video - MP4
• Coming on Active Duty for Dental Corps HPSP Participants
• Height/weight standards for the United States Navy at time of application and at time of commissioning
• Military Training for Commissioned Officers (ODS)
• Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) information
• YouTube links
  • Navy Dentist
  • Navy Dental Officer
  • Navy Maxillofacial Surgeon

Work for the Navy Dental Corps as a Civilian

If you are looking for a civilian position as a full-time provider, positions are listed on https://www.usajobs.gov/ and you would be able to submit an application from there.

Again, thank you for your interest in providing service to our country’s most deserving beneficiaries – we hope you can join us through one of the avenues mentioned above.