Ask an Air Force Dentist

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Any idea when the board will meet/when we find out which aegd or base assignment we will have this year?
 
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Some questions:
1. What residencies are eligible?
2. Is LRP also available?
3. When can you apply?

I have just accepted an endo residency position and am considering ways to pay for it.
 
koobpheej said:
Some questions:
1. What residencies are eligible? Changes based on need. right now OMS and 2-year AEGD would be the only ones that are almost a given. Perio and Pros would be considered. We are fully manned with Endodontists and we are graduating 4 per year from our programs, so Endo wouldn't be eligible for FAP at this time.

2. Is LRP also available? HPLRP would be available after you have been on active duty for 6 months. Again, the trouble is that we are 100% manned for Endodontists, so the chances of being a direct accession are pretty low.

3. When can you apply? Usually apply when accepted to a program for a FAP and can apply for HPLRP after 6 months on active duty.

I have just accepted an endo residency position and am considering ways to pay for it.
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Sorry, this probably isn't the news you wanted.
 
I am interested in staying in for the long haul and was curious about promotions. Are they pretty much guaranteed till you reach O-6? Or have there been O-5's that have been passed up for promotion?

To be promoted would I have to volunteer for deployments or how automatic are the promotions?

Thanks!
 
FutureDental said:
I am interested in staying in for the long haul and was curious about promotions. Are they pretty much guaranteed till you reach O-6? Or have there been O-5's that have been passed up for promotion?

To be promoted would I have to volunteer for deployments or how automatic are the promotions?

Thanks!
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Right now its 100% fully qualified to Maj and Lt Col. In other words, you would have to screw up not to make it to Lt Col right now. Promotion rate to Col is around 70%. You need to punch some tickets, so to speak, to make Col.

Notice I qualified everything with "right now". Since we are 100% manned, those numbers could change in the future. No rumors of it changing yet and I don't see it chaning anytime soon, but if we stay this way, the numbers could be different in the future.
 
Are there certain bases that you have to go to or bases that you can't go to if you do not do the AEGD? If so, do you know what they are? Also, if you do not do the AEGD, are you limited in the procedures they allow you to do?

Thanks
 
sportygirl said:
Are there certain bases that you have to go to or bases that you can't go to if you do not do the AEGD? If so, do you know what they are? Also, if you do not do the AEGD, are you limited in the procedures they allow you to do?

Thanks
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Your base choices would only be limited in that some bases are small with no specialists. You probably wouldn't go to the small (2-3 Dentist) bases because you would be expected to complete some treatment you may not have been trained for. You would most likely go to a larger base with specialists or with some strong AEGD grads so you could pick their brain. This isn't meant as punishment, it's meant to allow you to have someone to bounce things off of, etc...

You will be limited some, in that you won't be able to do some of the advanced procedures unless you can show you had training in them in school. Most non-AEGD accessions will have a period of time they will have supervised privileges. Again, not as punishment, but to make sure you are following the Clinical Practice Guidelines and to help you get used to the AF admin and record requirements.
 
Could you get accepted to the HPSP if you are in University of the Pacific's 2+3 program? If you're not familiar with the program, you do 2 years of undergrad study before you are admitted to their dental school (you have to apply, but they almost always accept those in the program). However, you aren't granted a bachelor's degree. Can you still get the HPSP? If you could, I would imagine you would have to apply to it freshman year.

Also, how many years of service after dental school does it take to get to Maj?
 
I am a 3rd year HPSP dental student and am interested in doing an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency. I know some basic info such as where the programs are and that the board meets in July to decide who gets in, but have some more questions.

1. Do OMS trained dentists have a much higher chance of being deployed than one who only does the AEGD?

2. During the OMS residency what is the pay like? Are you paid as an O-3 like the AEGD residents are?

3. Upon completion of OMS training would the work mostly be hospital based doing complex surgery, or would you be in a dental clinic taking out 3rd molars, placing implants, and doing mostly outpatient procedures?

4. Would the 4 yr OMS residency count towards retirement? Do most Oral Surgeons end up staying in for the long haul?

5. When you finish the OMS residency do you stay as an 0-3 during the 4 yr payback, or do they promote you after completion of the residency?

6. Are there opportunities to go to a foreign base as an Oral Surgeon?
 
Doc Payne said:
Could you get accepted to the HPSP if you are in University of the Pacific's 2+3 program? If you're not familiar with the program, you do 2 years of undergrad study before you are admitted to their dental school (you have to apply, but they almost always accept those in the program). However, you aren't granted a bachelor's degree. Can you still get the HPSP? If you could, I would imagine you would have to apply to it freshman year.

Also, how many years of service after dental school does it take to get to Maj?
Click to expand...

I'm looking into the first part of your question. I think the answer is yes, but I'm getting confirmation.

It takes 6 years to pin on Maj.
 
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skyskier said:
I am a 3rd year HPSP dental student and am interested in doing an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency. I know some basic info such as where the programs are and that the board meets in July to decide who gets in, but have some more questions.

1. Do OMS trained dentists have a much higher chance of being deployed than one who only does the AEGD? OMS and Comprehensive General Dentists are the most deployed.

2. During the OMS residency what is the pay like? Are you paid as an O-3 like the AEGD residents are? You are paid based on your rank. If that is O3, then you receive full O3 pay.

3. Upon completion of OMS training would the work mostly be hospital based doing complex surgery, or would you be in a dental clinic taking out 3rd molars, placing implants, and doing mostly outpatient procedures? Both. Our OMS are stationed at bases with hospitals with OR's so they can keep their skills up.

4. Would the 4 yr OMS residency count towards retirement? Do most Oral Surgeons end up staying in for the long haul? The residency does count toward retirement. I can't give you a number on how many stay. I would say most do stay for at least 20, but some don't.

5. When you finish the OMS residency do you stay as an 0-3 during the 4 yr payback, or do they promote you after completion of the residency? It takes 6 years to make Maj. After you finish your residency, you would spend 2 more years as a Capt before you pinned on Maj. Rank doesn't come due to training, it's mostly time served/experience based until you get to Lt Col.

6. Are there opportunities to go to a foreign base as an Oral Surgeon? Absolutely.
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Hope these answers help.
 
Thanks for getting back to me and answering those questions. I have a few more for you. If I were deployed as an Oral Surgeon, where would I likely go? Would the deployment be to an area close to where the action is happening? What type of work would I do (I'm assuming a lot of trauma)? What would you expect the work environment to be like? Would I be more of a medic, or would I handle more of the trauma type cases?
 
skyskier said:
Thanks for getting back to me and answering those questions. I have a few more for you. If I were deployed as an Oral Surgeon, where would I likely go? Would the deployment be to an area close to where the action is happening? What type of work would I do (I'm assuming a lot of trauma)? What would you expect the work environment to be like? Would I be more of a medic, or would I handle more of the trauma type cases?
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1. Can't say exactly where you would go, but it would be in more of a hospital type setting

2. Almost all deployments are "close" to the action. Some are closer than others.

3. Mostly trauma surgeries, but some third molars as well.

4. You would be in hospital like environment.

5. You would most likely have multiple duties, but mostly would be on standby for head and neck trauma.
 
Doc Payne said:
Could you get accepted to the HPSP if you are in University of the Pacific's 2+3 program? If you're not familiar with the program, you do 2 years of undergrad study before you are admitted to their dental school (you have to apply, but they almost always accept those in the program). However, you aren't granted a bachelor's degree. Can you still get the HPSP? If you could, I would imagine you would have to apply to it freshman year.

Also, how many years of service after dental school does it take to get to Maj?
Click to expand...

As it stands...all individuals who wish to apply for an HPSP must be enrolled in or already completed their undergrad. In order to receive funds (if selected), you must show AFIT that you completed their undergrad. This stems from the OI that states all commissioned officers must have a degree.

Direct quote from Recruiting Service.
 
AFDDS said:
As it stands...all individuals who wish to apply for an HPSP must be enrolled in or already completed their undergrad. In order to receive funds (if selected), you must show AFIT that you completed their undergrad. This stems from the OI that states all commissioned officers must have a degree.

Direct quote from Recruiting Service.
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Sounds like the 2+3 program wouldn't work, because you don't get a degree (even though you are enrolled in their undergrad). Do you think application to HPSP will drop the requirement of having a bachelor's degree in the near future?

The 3+3 program should work, because you get a bachelor's degree. But I don't know if I would want to risk another year of undergrad tuition for a shot at the HPSP, because it is competitive (even though I have complete confidence in myself).

Btw, I'm not just looking at going to Pacific. I am also interested in UIC's GPPA and NYU's accelerated program, among other schools.
 
There may be an answer to this somewhere on here, but does the Air Force currently offer the $20k sign on bonus for the four year scholarship as the other branches do?
 
Doc Payne said:
Sounds like the 2+3 program wouldn't work, because you don't get a degree (even though you are enrolled in their undergrad). Do you think application to HPSP will drop the requirement of having a bachelor's degree in the near future?

The 3+3 program should work, because you get a bachelor's degree. But I don't know if I would want to risk another year of undergrad tuition for a shot at the HPSP, because it is competitive (even though I have complete confidence in myself).

Btw, I'm not just looking at going to Pacific. I am also interested in UIC's GPPA and NYU's accelerated program, among other schools.
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I don't think it will change at all. This has been a requirement for some time now and I don't see it going away.
 
AFDDS said:
I don't think it will change at all. This has been a requirement for some time now and I don't see it going away.
Click to expand...

In that case, if I want to join the military, I should probably do anything but the 2+3 program. I've heard that having a bachelor's as a dentist doesn't have much significance at all, but apparently for military it would. My top reason for joining the military would be the opportunity to serve my country. A close second comes down to the money it sounds like it saves, because of the absence of all student loans, the stipends, and officer pay. It does save money, right?
 
AFDDS, thanks for all your answers...
I know that ortho is extremly hard to get into right out of school...Could one do an AEGD AF recidency right out of school, then maybe go into ortho or serve a year and then ortho? (serving the rest of time later of course)...thanks!
 
You said earlier that you were going to look for the date that acceptances to AEGD's were going to start being released. Any word on that yet?
 
Klueril said:
AFDDS, thanks for all your answers...
I know that ortho is extremly hard to get into right out of school...Could one do an AEGD AF recidency right out of school, then maybe go into ortho or serve a year and then ortho? (serving the rest of time later of course)...thanks!
Click to expand...
Yes. That is a common way to do it. It gets you some experience and you get to work with someone in that specialty that will hopefully write you a letter of recommendation.
 
I've applied for the 4 year HPSP dental scholarship. Any word for when the board will meet and give out acceptances? I remember you saying at the end of the fiscal year, but I'm not sure when that is. Thanks!
 
AFDDS, thank you for your previous reply.
Do you ever work with the dental corps of the Army or Navy?
Also I know a couple of years of being a dentist in the AF you achieve a pretty good rank, do people salute to you? (just out of curiosity:) )
 
What is residency matching like in the AirForce? For example... say one is on the AF scholorship for dental school and along the way develops a strong interest in a dental speciality. Will they have to wait for residency training after they've fulfilled thier AF commitment or can they begin it right out of dental school and then finish their time in the AF? Also does the AF offer residency to their dentists?

Thank you
 
JMan87 said:
I've applied for the 4 year HPSP dental scholarship. Any word for when the board will meet and give out acceptances? I remember you saying at the end of the fiscal year, but I'm not sure when that is. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Board should be meeting in Jan 2011 and acceptances will usually go out shortly after the board. Got some info on this directly from recruiting.
 
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Klueril said:
AFDDS, thank you for your previous reply.
Do you ever work with the dental corps of the Army or Navy?
Also I know a couple of years of being a dentist in the AF you achieve a pretty good rank, do people salute to you? (just out of curiosity:) )
Click to expand...

Yes and Yes.
 
yappy said:
What is residency matching like in the AirForce? For example... say one is on the AF scholorship for dental school and along the way develops a strong interest in a dental speciality. Will they have to wait for residency training after they've fulfilled thier AF commitment or can they begin it right out of dental school and then finish their time in the AF? Also does the AF offer residency to their dentists?

Thank you
Click to expand...
Depends on the specialty. Some specialties you can go to right out of school (OMS, AEGD-2, Pros, sometimes Perio). Endo and Ortho will require some time out of school, but not necessarily your entire commitment time. The AF offers graduate training in all specialties, either in AF programs or in civilian programs.
 
JMan87 said:
I've applied for the 4 year HPSP dental scholarship. Any word for when the board will meet and give out acceptances? I remember you saying at the end of the fiscal year, but I'm not sure when that is. Thanks!
Click to expand...

The HPSP boards are scheduled as follows:

30 November: 2 and 3-year HPSP
25 January: 4-year HPSP

The results are typically released within two weeks. They must be approved by the AFRS general before being released.
 
Doc Payne said:
In that case, if I want to join the military, I should probably do anything but the 2+3 program. I've heard that having a bachelor's as a dentist doesn't have much significance at all, but apparently for military it would. My top reason for joining the military would be the opportunity to serve my country. A close second comes down to the money it sounds like it saves, because of the absence of all student loans, the stipends, and officer pay. It does save money, right?
Click to expand...

Clarification on the rules.

Members applying for HPSP must possess an undergrad degree or have completed the equivalent work. Regarding the example of the U of Pacific HPSP could pick the member up after they have completed the undergrad work. This is due to the minimum commissioning requirements of holding an undergrad degree or equivalent.

The BSC Pharm-D programs are very similar. A Pharm-D program is 6 years, the first 2 are undergrad work and the last 4 are the graduate work. HPSP can pick them up after they have completed the undergrad portion of their
program.
 
AFDDS said:
Members applying for HPSP must possess an undergrad degree or have completed the equivalent work. Regarding the example of the U of Pacific HPSP could pick the member up after they have completed the undergrad work.
Click to expand...

You're referring to the 2+3 program, correct?
 
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My question may have been answered elsewhere in this 22 page long thread, but I'd like to just ask. When serving after dental school, is there a stipend/pay for services? I know that there is a stipend during dental school and all tuition is paid for, but after graduation and you begin working, do you get paid for this as well? That would be really nice to have your tuition paid for and then being paid for the years worked in the air force as well.
 
bustahfoo said:
My question may have been answered elsewhere in this 22 page long thread, but I'd like to just ask. When serving after dental school, is there a stipend/pay for services? I know that there is a stipend during dental school and all tuition is paid for, but after graduation and you begin working, do you get paid for this as well? That would be really nice to have your tuition paid for and then being paid for the years worked in the air force as well.
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Yes. You receive pay as a Captain upon graduation.
 
I was just wondering if you could give me an idea of how many specialty residencies are available to Air Force HPSP recipients? For example, how many OMFS residencies are there? How competitive are they to get?

Thank you for your help!
 
Doctor Jermo said:
I was just wondering if you could give me an idea of how many specialty residencies are available to Air Force HPSP recipients? For example, how many OMFS residencies are there? How competitive are they to get?

Thank you for your help!
Click to expand...

The attachment should answer most of your questions
 

Attachments

  • USAF DENTAL RESIDENCY OPPORTUNITIES.pdf
    114.9 KB · Views: 303
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So I'm currently a 2nd year on an HPSP scholarship and had some questions. With the boards going to pass fail starting Jan 2012 I was thinking about delaying my part I until they go to pass fail. That being said I would assume it may send a message that I wasn't all that motivated to study and get a 90 something, especially since the majority of my class will have a score associated with their board results. I'm not interested in specializing but was wondering if this could potentially prevent me from getting an AEGD slot. I should also note that my school is pass/fail so I could potentially have pass/fail grades and boards. How do you think this would impact my file during the AEGD board?

All that being said I'm not sure that I want to do an AEGD, mostly because my wife is AD AF and it would really complicate things trying to get joint spouse and we'll already be apart for a minimum of a year. But I am pretty confident that I want to complete at least 20 years in the AF. So will skipping out on an AEGD basically mean I'll end my career at Lt Col and mainly drill and fill for 20 years, and prevent SQ/CC opportunities? Also is an AEGD I essentially a requirement to complete an AEGD II with the AF?

Thanks for any insight you may have and I understand whatever is provided will be opinion and not policy.
 
2013 AF said:
So I'm currently a 2nd year on an HPSP scholarship and had some questions. With the boards going to pass fail starting Jan 2012 I was thinking about delaying my part I until they go to pass fail. That being said I would assume it may send a message that I wasn't all that motivated to study and get a 90 something, especially since the majority of my class will have a score associated with their board results. I'm not interested in specializing but was wondering if this could potentially prevent me from getting an AEGD slot. I should also note that my school is pass/fail so I could potentially have pass/fail grades and boards. How do you think this would impact my file during the AEGD board?

All that being said I'm not sure that I want to do an AEGD, mostly because my wife is AD AF and it would really complicate things trying to get joint spouse and we'll already be apart for a minimum of a year. But I am pretty confident that I want to complete at least 20 years in the AF. So will skipping out on an AEGD basically mean I'll end my career at Lt Col and mainly drill and fill for 20 years, and prevent SQ/CC opportunities? Also is an AEGD I essentially a requirement to complete an AEGD II with the AF?

Thanks for any insight you may have and I understand whatever is provided will be opinion and not policy.
Click to expand...

Don't count our specializing yet. Our programs are full of people that originally said, they didn't want to specialize, but changed their mind later.

It probably won't hurt too much getting into an AEGD-1. You'll need some good letters of recommendation and will need to finish as high in your class as your can. The AEGD-1 board looks at the whole person, so your NBDE scores are only a part. We also look at your DAT scores, GPA, class rank, extracurricular activities, etc... However, having a high score on your NBDE exams could be to your advantage.

I can't say it any clearer than this. If you are offered an AEGD and you don't do one, you're making a mistake that will affect the rest of your career as a dentist. We just finished a 3 week treatment planning and operative dentistry course for young dentists. None of the participants had completed an AEGD. At the beginning of the course most said, they were glad they hadn't and that they just didn't need it. At the end of the course, most said they wish they had completed an AEGD. The latest info says those that complete and AEGD are approximately 7 years ahead of their peers in experience. Don't take that lightly. I didn't do an AEGD right out of school, but I wish I would have. I did the 2 year AEGD after I had been out for 4 years and wouldn't change a thing.

Your career won't necessarily be over at Lt Col if you don't do a specialty. I know some dentists that made Col without a specialty. However, statistically you have a much higher chance to make Col with a specialty. If you do the AEGD-1 you can convert your AFSC later and help yourself as well. Remember only about 70% of Lt Col's eligible for promotion are promoted to Col each year. If everyone else in your year group is a boarded specialist, and you aren't, it will make it difficult for you.

Is your wife enlisted or officer? Don't let join spouse assignments turn you off the AEGD. Our Assignments office works hard to make those happen. Matter of fact, they haven't missed one. They will work with the assignments personnel for your wife and get you taken care of for that.
 
Yes my wife is an officer and we know she will be assigned to a base that has an AEGD in 2012, but even if I go there in 2013 when I graduate as you said in previous post chances of staying at the location you complete your AEGD are slim to none. So if she was able to get out of her assignment after 3 years (unlikely that they will let her go in less than 4) that would mean 2 years apart in 3 years. We both understand we will be apart at times through our careers but choosing to be apart...

On a different note my application would essentially be extra-curricular activities and whatever essays are on the application because my school has no grades and does not rank us. Do you know if the AEGD board reviews our HPSP application or if previous OPRs are reviewed if available (you mentioned the DATs are reviewed)?
 
2013 AF said:
Yes my wife is an officer and we know she will be assigned to a base that has an AEGD in 2012, but even if I go there in 2013 when I graduate as you said in previous post chances of staying at the location you complete your AEGD are slim to none. So if she was able to get out of her assignment after 3 years (unlikely that they will let her go in less than 4) that would mean 2 years apart in 3 years. We both understand we will be apart at times through our careers but choosing to be apart...

On a different note my application would essentially be extra-curricular activities and whatever essays are on the application because my school has no grades and does not rank us. Do you know if the AEGD board reviews our HPSP application or if previous OPRs are reviewed if available (you mentioned the DATs are reviewed)?
Click to expand...
The board probably won't have your previous OPRs, but will know if you are prior service.

Your assignment situation is different. If your wife has an assignment to a base with an AEGD, our assignments office understands that and will work to keep you there. Assignment rules are the same for everyone. If she has a minimum time on station, they will not ask to have her moved just to move you. They will most likely leave you in place at that base. Make sure you tell them about this in your application and on your AEGD base preference list.
 
AFDDS,

My understanding was that in the civilian world we don't need GRE scores for residencies. It depends on research, gpa, boards, etc. In the AF, which residency programs require GRE?
 
Also my recruiter told me the minimum DAT is 18. Has that changed?
 
Does anyone know if our loans from dental school are defered while doing the AEGD?
 
My recruiter told me that I have to submit three letters of recommendation for the HPSP, so I asked if I could use the letters that had been sent in with my dental school application. The recruiter told me that I could use the same letter writers, but that it would be a good idea to have them re-write the letters referencing the Air Force Scholarship. The problem is that it took the letter writers nearly four months to write the letters for my dental school application. There isn't that much time, I have to get this submitted ASAP. What should I do? Do you think the letters written for my dental school will be sufficient?
 
iamspartacus2 said:
My recruiter told me that I have to submit three letters of recommendation for the HPSP, so I asked if I could use the letters that had been sent in with my dental school application. The recruiter told me that I could use the same letter writers, but that it would be a good idea to have them re-write the letters referencing the Air Force Scholarship. The problem is that it took the letter writers nearly four months to write the letters for my dental school application. There isn't that much time, I have to get this submitted ASAP. What should I do? Do you think the letters written for my dental school will be sufficient?
Click to expand...

One thing I did was get extra letters and had the recruiter pick what he felt were the best 3. Might be a good option here. Tell those people that wrote it the situation and your time constraint and see what they say. On top of that, ask some other people to write you letters. I had some professors, one that had prior service, write letters for my HPSP that did not write one for dental school. I think it's to your benefit to try your best to get Air Force specific letters even if you have to get new ones. If all else fails, I guess just use the same ones. Best bet is still to get extra letters and have the recruiter pick 3. Try to get some different types of people to write letters about your different qualities rather than 3 dentists who will likely talk about the same thing.
 
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