What is it like to be a military dentist?

I'm thinking about a career as a military dentist and would love to hear about the daily routine, responsibilities, and unique aspects of this role compared to civilian dentistry.

Being a military dentist is a unique opportunity with its own set of rewards and challenges. It combines the practice of dentistry with a commitment to serving the military community, which can include both active-duty personnel and veterans.

A typical day as a military dentist could start with knocking out paperwork, case management, and catching up on emails. Like in any other dental practice, patients are scheduled throughout the day. These may include regular checkups, dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and some minor dental surgeries. Emergency care is also provided as needed, which can be quite exciting.

However, the military environment does introduce some unique aspects. Within the military, oral health is taken very seriously due to the potential impact on deployment readiness. This might result in higher rates of preventative care and patient compliance, compared to civilian dentistry.

Furthermore, as a military dentist, you are also an officer. This means you will have obligations and responsibilities associated with being an officer, just like any military personnel. You'll need to demonstrate leadership, maintain fitness standards, and sometimes participate in officer training and development. It's also possible that you'll deploy overseas to provide dental care in military installations, or be involved in humanitarian missions.

You also have the chance to move around and not be tied to a specific location since the military often rotates its personnel. This can be exciting as you'll get to experience different cities and even countries, but also a challenge as you need to frequently adapt to new environments.

Finally, it's worth noting that the financial and educational benefits of being a military dentist are quite appealing. The military often provides scholarships for dental school, contingent upon a service commitment after graduation, and covers most, if not all, of your educational expenses.

Overall, while the routine aspects of providing dental care are similar to civilian dental practice, being a military dentist also entails serving a specific community, dealing with its unique challenges, and enjoying the additional perks and opportunities the role brings.