I’m considering a career in dental care, and the idea of serving in the military as a dental assistant sounds appealing. I've read a bit about military dental assistant jobs and I'm curious about how one gets started in this career path.
Do you need prior experience in dental assisting to apply for these roles, or does the military provide training? Also, how does the experience differ from civilian dental assistant positions? Additionally, if anyone has personal experiences or knows more about day-to-day duties, it’d be super helpful!
To become a dental assistant in the military, you won't need prior experience in dental assisting. The military will provide all the requisite training you will need.
Once you enlist in the military, typically the Army or Navy, you will go through basic combat training or boot camp as the first step. This usually lasts about 8-10 weeks depending on the branch of the military you choose.
After completion of basic training, the next step is A-school, or "Advanced School," where you'll focus on your job specialty. In this case, you would go to a dental assistant training program. This program will provide the technical training necessary to perform your duties as a dental assistant. In this program, you may learn dental radiology, dental head and neck anatomy, infection control, dental materials, and preventative dentistry.
Post-training, you'll be stationed at a military base, likely serving at a base dental clinic, where you'll work under the supervision of a dental officer providing dental care to military personnel or their families. Your responsibilities may include preparing patients for dental treatment, assisting during procedures, sterilizing dental instruments, performing radiographs, and educating patients on dental hygiene.
Compared to civilian dental assistant roles, military dental assistants may also have duties that involve maintaining readiness for deployment and could be called upon to assist in humanitarian missions or in combat zones.
You must also meet the physical and moral requirements to join the military, and these requirements will vary by branch. Furthermore, prior to enlistment, you'll have to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to assess whether you have the necessary skills for the military job you're hoping to get.
Finally, serving as a dental assistant in the military could potentially offer additional benefits not typically seen in civilian roles, such as student loan repayment and ongoing professional development opportunities. Plus, the experience you gain could very well help you transition into civilian roles in future, or even further your education in the dental field while serving.
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