Ask an Army Dentist

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How frequently have people taken time off from the military and gone into civilian residency programs?
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I think it is th exception rather than the rule, try looking up the "Will the military muck up my plans for specializing" Thread.

In general you are excepted to go directly to active duty, but if you are specializing in an area the Army is in need of you may be able to get a deferment. On the flip side if you decide you like the military, then you can stay in and get your residnecy for free or if you decide to get out, you may have a better chance of getting your residency after a few years of general dentistry experience.
 
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Let's say BQuad that if when you were done with your military commitment, could you 're-up' for 4 mores years with the Air Force or Navy? If so, what kinds of things would they throw at you to keep you on? If you were to transfer branches, does you military time carry over towards retirement? Also, if you stay in for four more years active duty, does that erase the IRR commitment that comes with the HPSP?
 
You can do a branch transfer but there is a lot of paperwork involved and I'm not sure how easy of a transition it would be, if you would need to go back to Air Force officer's course, etc. The only thing they can work with you on is your next assignment as far as keeping you in, that or resdiencies. I believe if you do a branch transfer and you don't have a break in service your retirement time will carry over but I'm not sure. Lastly your service obligation is for 8 years, if you do 4 years active then you do 4 years IRR, but if you do 5 years active, then you do 3 years IRR. As long as the total is 8 you are done.
 
DEAR FRIEND,
I am in 3 rd year dental school. I will graduate in may 2009.I need money while studying. i do not mind comittment. pl. tell me which is best branch to join? i willapply for citizenship in june 2008. i am green card holder. my age is 45yrs. do i have any chance for getting money ( bonus) ?
is citizenship & young age is must?
pl. help me,thanks

If you have a question about Army Dentistry, drop a line and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability from my experience.

My tours so far:

Loma Linda - 4yr HPSP
Ft. Lewis- 1yr AEGD
Camp Casey, Korea- 1yr
Ft. Richardson, AK - 1yr
Camp Bucca, Iraq - Been here 8 months[/QUOTE]
 
If you are already in your 3rd year, than it is too late to apply. The shortest scholarship is a 2 year scholarship. Citizenship is a requirement for becoming an officer. If you are still interested in serving, you may look at joining when you graduate. If I was joining I would chose Air Force, but Navy is offering the biggest sign on bonus right now, $200k.
 
Whats a sign on bonus? and is it really $200 k
 
ucla4lifer said:
Whats a sign on bonus? and is it really $200 k
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He's referring to current practicing dentist who would jump ship, pardon the pun, for the Navy from civilian life.

So if you're a private citizen and a currently licensed and board certified dental clinician and you decide to 'SIGN UP' the Navy will pay you a cool 200K for your troubles for joining, probably with a 4 year commitment connected to that. Your pay will most likely be at a Captain's range which is in the 60,000-70,000 range when all is said and done/year.
 
BQuad,
I was accepted into the 2 year AEGD yesterday, and have already passed on the 1 year AGD. I am not positive about making a career in the military as my father has a profitable practice established in Ohio. I am married with 3 young kids, and my wife wants to get in and out of the service. She also wants me to consider the 2 year AEGD, in order to delay my status of being deployable.

I have gone back and forth with whether or not I should accept residency, with the idea that the training is excellent. My fear is that if do accept a position and decide the Army lifestyle is not for me, then I have delayed myself from leaving the Army by an additional 2 years. I also realize that upon graduation I will not feel entirely prepared to be a fully functional dentist.

I ask for advice from people on both sides of the situation and feel I don't get a completely impartial view of what might be best. What is your opinion with your limited knowledge?
 
My father actually did the 2 Year Residency when he was in the Dental Corps so I know a little about the program.

Here's my 2 cents:

Pro's:
1) 2 Yr AEGD will make you a great private practice general dentist (you won't have to refer as much out) and you will learn a ton more than you have in dental school.
2) If you decide the Army is where you want to practice, then you have a jump start on other officers because you will have your residency completed, so you can get board certification pay sooner and will be set as far as promotions go.

Con's:
1) You are probably more deployable after doing a 2 year residency and are more likely to be assigned to a deployable unit (which means 15 month tours right now)
2) You will gain more skills in the 2 year, but some of what you learn you won't be comfortable performing on patients in a private practice setting when you don't have the specialist next door to ask questions. For example, I did several perio surgeries in the 1 Year but haven't done any since so I probably won't be doing any when I get out.
3) You lengthen your commitment. How long is your commitment with a 2 year scholarship? Is it just 2 years or is it 3? The reason I didn't consider the 2 year out of school is that it would be 2 years residency plus 2 years additional payback, which would commit me for 4 extra years in the Army and I'm glad I didn't do that.
4) You extend you commitment for little return on the private practice side. After the residency you will still be a general dentist and you may make more than others because you won't have to refer as many patients out, but you won't be making as much as if you did an ortho or endo residency.

Regarding deployments, there is a proposal in Sec Gates office right now trying to get tours for dentists down to 6 months, but this will only be for dentists that are pulled from a clinic to deploy, those actually assigned to field units will still be going for 15 months. Another thing to consider is that if you don't do the scholarship, you are not deployable for your first year in the Army, they give you a year to make sure you are up to speed and can handle sick call and the type of things you would see if you are deployed. I think you will be less likely to deploy if you don't do the residency, you may still get stuck with it though. You will be non-deployable while in the residency, but you are making a gamble on there being fewer deployments by the time you are done with it, for now it looks like we are going to be stuck over here a long time and as long as there are troops there will be dentists with them.

If it was me, I would pass on the residency this round, and feel out the Army before committing any more time. You can always reapply for it because they always need 2 yr residents. With 15 month deployments, I can't in good faith recommend staying in the Army to anyone with a family. If your family is not ready to support you in the decision you make, than it is the wrong one for your family. I met my wife after I was committed and it has been really tough on her because I've had to put the Army first.

Good luck, I hope that helps some.
 
I've seen this on several threads, but what is AEGD? and is this only Army or for all military branches such as navy, air force, etc?
 
AEGD stands for advanced education in general dentistry (I think). I believe each of the branches offer it. For the Army it is a 2 year program, which at the conclusion if you pass your board, will qualify you as a specialist. Meaning that you are eligible for a large multi year retention bonus if you decide you would like to make a career of the military.
 
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BQuad said:
Similar to Deep Impact's Navy thread.

If you have a question about Army Dentistry, drop a line and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability from my experience.

My tours so far:

Loma Linda - 4yr HPSP
Ft. Lewis- 1yr AEGD
Camp Casey, Korea- 1yr
Ft. Richardson, AK - 1yr
Camp Bucca, Iraq - Been here 8 months
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Do you have answers about entering the reserves in Canada and studying dentistry
 
BQuad said:
My father actually did the 2 Year Residency when he was in the Dental Corps so I know a little about the program.

Here's my 2 cents:

Pro's:
1) 2 Yr AEGD will make you a great private practice general dentist (you won't have to refer as much out) and you will learn a ton more than you have in dental school.
2) If you decide the Army is where you want to practice, then you have a jump start on other officers because you will have your residency completed, so you can get board certification pay sooner and will be set as far as promotions go.

Con's:
1) You are probably more deployable after doing a 2 year residency and are more likely to be assigned to a deployable unit (which means 15 month tours right now)
2) You will gain more skills in the 2 year, but some of what you learn you won't be comfortable performing on patients in a private practice setting when you don't have the specialist next door to ask questions. For example, I did several perio surgeries in the 1 Year but haven't done any since so I probably won't be doing any when I get out.
3) You lengthen your commitment. How long is your commitment with a 2 year scholarship? Is it just 2 years or is it 3? The reason I didn't consider the 2 year out of school is that it would be 2 years residency plus 2 years additional payback, which would commit me for 4 extra years in the Army and I'm glad I didn't do that.
4) You extend you commitment for little return on the private practice side. After the residency you will still be a general dentist and you may make more than others because you won't have to refer as many patients out, but you won't be making as much as if you did an ortho or endo residency.

Regarding deployments, there is a proposal in Sec Gates office right now trying to get tours for dentists down to 6 months, but this will only be for dentists that are pulled from a clinic to deploy, those actually assigned to field units will still be going for 15 months. Another thing to consider is that if you don't do the scholarship, you are not deployable for your first year in the Army, they give you a year to make sure you are up to speed and can handle sick call and the type of things you would see if you are deployed. I think you will be less likely to deploy if you don't do the residency, you may still get stuck with it though. You will be non-deployable while in the residency, but you are making a gamble on there being fewer deployments by the time you are done with it, for now it looks like we are going to be stuck over here a long time and as long as there are troops there will be dentists with them.

If it was me, I would pass on the residency this round, and feel out the Army before committing any more time. You can always reapply for it because they always need 2 yr residents. With 15 month deployments, I can't in good faith recommend staying in the Army to anyone with a family. If your family is not ready to support you in the decision you make, than it is the wrong one for your family. I met my wife after I was committed and it has been really tough on her because I've had to put the Army first.

Good luck, I hope that helps some.
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I am a 2nd year HPSP dental student but I have been thinking about the pros/cons of doing 1 year AEGD. Was it a good choice financially? Do you really make more money with the residency vs. just going into the Army? Are there limited bases where the AEGD is? Is there a lot of "school work" involved? And, lets say I did NOT do the AEGD, do I get to pick where I want to go? And will I be there the whole 4 years? Because you get sent somewhere for the AEGD, then somewhere else to "live out" the rest of your 4 year, right?
Sorry for all the questions!
Good luck with the rest of your tour!!!
 
jb54ram said:
AEGD stands for advanced education in general dentistry (I think). I believe each of the branches offer it. For the Army it is a 2 year program, which at the conclusion if you pass your board, will qualify you as a specialist. Meaning that you are eligible for a large multi year retention bonus if you decide you would like to make a career of the military.
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AEGD is Advance Education in General Dentistry. The Army offers both 1 and 2 year programs. The one year program is worth while but not as good as the Air Force programs, doesn't get you anywhere if you are planning on staying a career officer, extends your commitment(it doesn't count as a payback year) and makes you more deployable. I did it when it counted as a payback year but it didn't matter because the Army extended me for 16 months anyway. I would be very cautious about extending you commitment before you see if you like the Army.

OSU DentGirl's ?'s

AEGD doesn't make an difference financially unless you count lost civilian income for an extra year you spend in the Army instead of starting a practice. Depends if you decide to make it a career or not though.

The AEGD is only offered at a few bases: Ft. Lewis, WA, Ft. Carson, CO, Ft. Jackson, SC, maybe Ft. Benning, GA. You typically will spend only one year at that base, unless there is an open slot and you volunteer to go to a field (deployable) unit.

If you go straight in without an AEGD you will typically spend 3-4 years at a base, probably a larger one, like Bragg, Benning, Hood or 3 years in Europe. You would be less likely to be assigned to a field unit right away, but you could be transferred into one after your first year or be deployed as a filler to a unit.

There is some schoolwork in the AEGD, but nothing like dental school. You'll have a research project (table clinic) or a paper, then weekly literature reviews, there will also be some CE to attend and some lab work.

Hope that helps.
 
I just talked to an army dentist. He told me that in the 2 yr AEGD you are board eligible. He also stated that in a 1 yr AEGD there is less academic coursework than a 2 yr one.
 
Thanks BQuad! I have been reading your messages, and you are very helpful as we venture into the unknown! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!:)
 
I have got an acceptance into an Army 1yr AEGD spot, but I am not sure if I will take it. I have heard from everybody that has done it that you get to learn a lot of what you didn't learn in dental school, but then your next assignment could put you somewhere that those skills aren't used and so you forget what you have learned. On the other hand, I have heard that if you are proactive and you are assigned to a clinic you can learn a lot from the specialists that are there. From what I gather the 1yr gives you the skills that make you readily available to do a 15month deployment and adds a year to the commitment. Have you heard that there are any benefits in getting a specialty easier by doing an 1yr AEGD?
 
You're right on both accounts blankguy.

You will learn a lot more in the 1 yr than you did in dental school regarding clinical practice. It is true that if you are in a flexible clinic AND have helpful specialists around, they will mentor you if you are thinking about specializing in their field, but those are both variable by location. As far as specializing goes, the 1 year is a benefit for 2 main reasons:

1: If you are undecided, it gives you a chance to really learn a lot about each
specialty and get to do more than you did in dental school in each field.

2: If you do well in that specialty in the 1 year than you will have a really strong letter of recommendation for whichever specialty you are applying to. That will carry a good amount of weight in your residency application.

Hope that helps.
 
BQuad, i have a few questions.

From reading your posts it looks like the 1 year AEGD lets u get experience in all the specialties and if you do well and get good recommendations, you could pursue the specialty you really want to do. But what happens if in the 1 year you don't want to specialize, would that essentially have been one wasted year?

Also why would anyone want to just do a one year over a 2 year AEGD besides less academic work in the one year. What benefit is there for that since I believe it is the 2 year AEGD that lets u become specialized. Basically, why would anyone want to just do a 1 year AEGD?

Also you mentioned that the one year AEGD isn't as good as the air force's. WHat makes the air force one year AEGD program better than the army. How does the 2 year AEGD at the air force compare to the army's 2 year AEGD program.

ITs a lot of questions and please correct me if i was wrong on anything.

THanks!
 
andyjl said:
But what happens if in the 1 year you don't want to specialize, would that essentially have been one wasted year?

Also why would anyone want to just do a one year over a 2 year AEGD besides less academic work in the one year.

Also you mentioned that the one year AEGD isn't as good as the air force's. WHat makes the air force one year AEGD program better than the army.
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The 1 year gives you clinical experience you don't get in dental school. If you feel that you aren't clinically prepared when you leave dental school, the 1 year will be valuable to you. I don't think I would have accepted it if it didn't count towards my payback the year I did it. As far as the AF program goes, do a search for snozberries (an AF dentist) or AEGD and you should find some threads comparing the two. Basically, he got a lot more experience in his program than I did in mine.

If you are sure you don't want to specialize right now and are planning on making the Army a career the 2 year is the way to go. Also the Army will allow some officers who did the 2 year early in their careers to attend another residency later on if they really want to specialize. The biggest drawback to the 2 year is committing more time to the Army before you see if you like it.

You can also go straight in and if you think you'll like it long term, apply for the 2 year during your first or second year in the Army.
 
If you aren't planning on specializing and wouldn't mind staying in the Army an extra year for the AEGD, I would definitely recommend it for a few reasons:
1) If you don't do an AEGD this year, knowing the assignment positions that are available, you are probably going to get sent somewhere you would not want to go.
2) If you don't do the AEGD, you are going to spend the next four years doing very little besides exams and amalgam. Meaning, you aren't going to have as much experience as you would want in other areas, especially pros, to go out into a private practice.
3) After you finish the AEGD, you can work towards getting the 9F additional identifier, making you eligible for a $25,000 per year multi-year retention bonus. If you think you might stay in the Army more than just your initial commitment this would give you a huge raise in pay. If you are planning on getting out after your initial commitment, then this won't matter much to you.
4) Anywhere you go, you will have to apply for credentials for specific procedures. If you haven't done an AEGD, you are limited on the procedures you can get credential for (be allowed to do). E.g. Without the AEGD under your belt, you can't do molar endo, surgical extractions, nitrous oxide, 3 unit or more bridges, etc.... I don't have the exact list with me, so I don't know what is on it exactly, but this goes back to my #2 point above. If you don't have it, you will probably not do much more than exams and amalgam. Of course, this varies from post to post and command to command, but this is a generalization.
5) You will be more competent in many areas. Just a guestimate on procedures did in the first six months of my 1 year AEGD: a dozen or so crown lengthening and several other perio surgeries, prepped about 10 bridges and and 15 crowns, several full mouth rehab cases, around 25 or 30 canals of endo and two apicoectomies, lots of surgical extractions, including full bony impacted third molars. Very little operative, other than build-ups.
6) You think that there might even be a small chance of you wanting to specialize. Having an AEGD under your belt looks VERY good and GREATLY improves your chances of getting into a specialty.
7) If you want to become a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, then doing an AEGD will fulfill over half the requirements to do so.

Reasons to not do the AEGD:
1) You absolutely HATE dental school and don't want to feel like you are going through another year of it. This year has been very similar to dental school, except we do a lot more of everything. We still have mentors checking our work, but we are usually working one-on-one with a specialist. We don't have exams that count for a grade, but we spend a fair amount of time putting together lectures, presentations, literature reviews. We have didactics every Friday that are a lot like small-group discussions. There are only eight residents here.
2) You are in a hurry to get in and out of the Army and don't want to spend the extra year in it, but if your overall goal is to go into a general dentistry private practice and you KNOW this, then I think an AEGD would be very beneficial to you skills-wise.
3) You are all about money. The absolute truth is, that your actual paychecks in the Army are disappointing. If your are absolutely sure your overall goal is to get in and out of the Army ASAP, then skip the AEGD so you can go into private practice sooner. You will end up being ahead financially if you do this, strictly because the earning potential will be higher if you get out a year earlier. You could earn double the income in a private practice than you will in the Army for that year.....but, I would expect it to be harder to get into the groove of doing private practice procedures if you had spent the last four years doing very little pros, endo, etc...
4) You don't want to move more than once in the next four years. If you don't do an AEGD, wherever you get assigned next year, you will probably be there for the next four years (deployments aside). You can call CPT Pratt-Chambers to talk to her about what assignments might be available, but I can tell you they are pretty limited this year, so you might not like where they send you, but you would probably stay for four years.

To be completely honest with you, knowing what I know now, I would not recommend the Army to anyone who does not want to specialize, unless you plan on spending a career in the Army. I had joined the Army in 1998, before dental school, so I was just used to it and liked serving my country, and knew I wanted to eventually specialize in OS. But, until the Army pulls its head out of its ass and starts compensating dentists more comparably to what a private practice dentists income would be, I would not recommend it to anyone not wanting to specialize.
 
UMKCDDS,

I sent you an email regarding the Army OMFS programs. Please ready and reply when you get the chance.

Thanks.
 
Good post umkcdds!

I forgot about the new program for the 9F designation (Also known as ACP, Advanced Clinical Practice). The drawback to it is that it would take at least 2 years to complete all the requirements to get the extra money and I've been out of the AEGD for almost 4 years and due to hardship tours and deployments, couldn't have completed their checklist even if i wanted too.

Sounds like you did a lot more in your program than I did in mine, so maybe the Army 1 year programs have improved.
 
BQuad said:
Good post umkcdds!

I forgot about the new program for the 9F designation (Also known as ACP, Advanced Clinical Practice). The drawback to it is that it would take at least 2 years to complete all the requirements to get the extra money and I've been out of the AEGD for almost 4 years and due to hardship tours and deployments, couldn't have completed their checklist even if i wanted too.

Sounds like you did a lot more in your program than I did in mine, so maybe the Army 1 year programs have improved.
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if you start working on the ACP right out of the AEGD, most of what is on the checklist gets completed during the residency (clinical requirements aside - those must be completed outside of the residency). when starting to work toward the ACP, you can meet the other requirements with things that had been done up to two years prior. being deployed actually gives you a bunch of the requirements. as far as the time it takes to complete the clinical requirements goes, i don't see any reason why they couldn't be completed in a year. i'm sure your location factors into that quite a bit, but there is a 63A9D in my clinic now that started working toward this last summer and is expecting to be done at least by this summer, if not sooner.
 
The big one I was thinking of is the Expert Field Medical badge which because of where I have been, I haven't been able to attend.
 
I've just been told by the recruiter and several army dentist that the 2 yr aegd program may count towards the payback time. Is there any truth to that? I know the 1 yr aegd doesn't count towards payback.:confused:
 
BQuad said:
The big one I was thinking of is the Expert Field Medical badge which because of where I have been, I haven't been able to attend.
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you can do it without the EFMB. that is only one of the three things that you can do to fulfill that area. i think that section has about six or seven options in it and it says that you have to fulfill three of them.
 
blankguy said:
I've just been told by the recruiter and several army dentist that the 2 yr aegd program may count towards the payback time. Is there any truth to that? I know the 1 yr aegd doesn't count towards payback.:confused:
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yes....the two-year counts toward payback....but you also incur two more years. so, you still end up still owing four years after your complete it.
and it should be easy to get selected for. this year, there were 20 positions available and only eight or twelve (i don't remember exactly which number) were filled. everyone who applied for it was selected.
 
So, let's say I do NOT do an AEGD or any specialty. Where do dentists usually get sent? I know we are supposed to be able to choose, but do they send us a list of where you can go? Are there particular bases that get deployed often? Are there certain bases that deploy to certain places? I expect to get deployed, but I just want to know if I can "predict" where I go!
 
OSU_DentGirl said:
So, let's say I do NOT do an AEGD or any specialty. Where do dentists usually get sent? I know we are supposed to be able to choose, but do they send us a list of where you can go? Are there particular bases that get deployed often? Are there certain bases that deploy to certain places? I expect to get deployed, but I just want to know if I can "predict" where I go!
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you will have to call CPT Pratt-Chambers at HRC. she can give you a list of places that she expects to be available. ask her what types of slots are available in those places - are they PROFIS (part of a dental company/DENTAC) or a non-dental "Division" slot. with a PROFIS position, you will be assigned to a dental clinic and do dentistry full-time. with a Division slot, you will be assigned to someone else (i.e. the 101st Airborne, 2nd ID, etc...) and will be playing soldier with your unit part-time (doing exams for them, setting up a dental clinic in the field, et..) and working in a clinic part-time. if you are part of a Division, then you deploy when they deploy. so, the only way to try to predict if you would be deployed would be to find out if that unit has recently deployed, just returned, or are scheduled to deploy sometime. i don't know if CPT Pratt-Chambers has that information or not.
if you are PROFIS, then you are put on an OML (order of merit list) and can usually be deployed with a dental or medical company when your name comes up at the top of the list.

BQuad might be able to give you more info about this, since he's been in a little longer and has been deployed.

when you call CPT Pratt-Chambers to find out what is available, you can give her preferences from those spots that she says the expects to be available and she will "try" to accomodate, but you must realize that coming right out of school, you will have last pick. however, you most likely aren't going to be sent to a small clinic, where you wouldn't have little senior support around you, since you are a newbie. this most likely rules out going overseas (but not definitely).
i don't remember all of what is open right now, but i think possibly, Polk, Richardson, Bragg, Hood, Bliss, Drum, Wainright, and several in Germany and South Korea were available last time i spoke to her.

these places are changing all the time and won't really be nailed down until probably the end of March or a little later. CPT Pratt-Chambers might, however, be able to "pencil you in" somewhere.

the saying is that there are two types of dentists in the Army. those that have been deployed, and those that will be deployed.
 
All good info. You will probably get stationed at a large base if you don't you the AEGD, but both Germany and South Korea have some large clinics you could be assigned to. As far as deployment goes, you will have one year to get your skills up to make sure you can handle sick call and the things you are likely to see if deployed. After that you will be on the Order of Merit List for a PROFIS slot. PROFIS slots are less predictable and notice for deployments is usually 2-6 months before leaving. With PROFIS slots you will also probably have to travel to where ever the unit is stationed which results in an additional few weeks away from home. For example I was PRFOIS'd from Alaska to Fort Bragg, NC.

The other option is volunteering to join a field unit, they typically know their deployments a year in advance so you have more time to prepare and you know the people you deploy with which is a good thing. If you want a real Army experience, join an Airborne or Cavalry unit, they have more traditions and more social obligations, but end up with a tighter bond also. It is not easy to predict exactly where a unit will be deployed too.
 
It's been mentioned that if you decide to make the military a career that specialization is the way to go. How does that work? It seems that seniority counts when applying?
 
umkcdds said:
yes....the two-year counts toward payback....but you also incur two more years. so, you still end up still owing four years after your complete it.
and it should be easy to get selected for. this year, there were 20 positions available and only eight or twelve (i don't remember exactly which number) were filled. everyone who applied for it was selected.
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You are absolutely wrong. If you do the 2 year AEGD (specialty program), you end up serving for a total of 8 years. ( 4 years + 2 years of AEGD + 2 years )
That's why this program is unpopular and only a few spots have been filled.

But if you do the 1 year AEGD (neutral non-specialty program), you only have to serve 5 years. (4 years + 1 year of AEGD)

Read the find prints carefully as the recruters can say anything they want to make you stay longer in the army/navy/AF.
 
doctor_pureness, as a new member, you better site a source for your information before jumping down the throat of an active duty dentist that is trying to help you guys get as much information as possible before you sign up. If you don't mind your manners, you're not likely to get any help when you need it.
 
doctor_pureness said:
You are absolutely wrong. If you do the 2 year AEGD (specialty program), you end up serving for a total of 8 years. ( 4 years + 2 years of AEGD + 2 years )
That's why this program is unpopular and only a few spots have been filled.

But if you do the 1 year AEGD (neutral non-specialty program), you only have to serve 5 years. (4 years + 1 year of AEGD)

Read the find prints carefully as the recruters can say anything they want to make you stay longer in the army/navy/AF.
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nope. you are two years too long. if you come right out of dental school and do the 2-year AEGD, then you would have all of your ADSO completed after a total of six years after entering active duty.
if you didn't do the 2-year AEGD until four years out of school (after your initial 4-year ADSO from the HPSP scholarship was completed) then your example would be true.

an additional two year ADSO is incurred from doing a residency, however, the additional ADSO that is incurred is paid back concurrently with your HPSP ADSO upon finishing the residency.
 
blankguy said:
It's been mentioned that if you decide to make the military a career that specialization is the way to go. How does that work? It seems that seniority counts when applying?
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if you are planning a career, then you will almost certainly have to specialize. you could "specialize" general dentistry, by doing a 2-year AEGD.

without completing a specialty program, there is very little chance of going above the LTC rank. if you are passed up for promotion twice, you are usually boarded out of the Army. it is possible to go 20 years and retire as a LTC, just not very probable, especially in the Dental Corp.
 
umkcdds said:
if you are planning a career, then you will almost certainly have to specialize. you could "specialize" general dentistry, by doing a 2-year AEGD.

without completing a specialty program, there is very little chance of going above the LTC rank. if you are passed up for promotion twice, you are usually boarded out of the Army. it is possible to go 20 years and retire as a LTC, just not very probable, especially in the Dental Corp.
Click to expand...


They(recruiter and army dentist) have told me that it is encouraged to specialize. What I don't get is if you are staying for the long haul do they tend to favor you over somebody who has not been in the army as long? I take it the a lot of the dentist just do their payback time and bail.:confused:
 
BQuad said:
doctor_pureness, as a new member, you better site a source for your information before jumping down the throat of an active duty dentist that is trying to help you guys get as much information as possible before you sign up. If you don't mind your manners, you're not likely to get any help when you need it.
Click to expand...

According to the memorandum that was sent out on Sep 7th 2007,

(2) Example: If a 3-year HPSP student is accepted into the AEGD 24-month program and starts in July 2008, his first 2 year on AD in the ADGE 24-month program will not count as part of his ADSO. When he completes the AEGD, he will have a 3-yr ADSO for HPSP and a 2-yr ADSO for AEGD.

(2) Example: Participation in the AEGD 12-month program does no incur any additional ADSO.....For example, a 3-year HPSP student would complete the 12-month AEGD program then serve 3 additional years to complete the 3-year ADSO.

BQUAD, I reall enjoy reading your informative posts and I was only trying to contribute something to the forum.
 
doctor_pureness said:
According to the memorandum that was sent out on Sep 7th 2007,

(2) Example: If a 3-year HPSP student is accepted into the AEGD 24-month program and starts in July 2008, his first 2 year on AD in the ADGE 24-month program will not count as part of his ADSO. When he completes the AEGD, he will have a 3-yr ADSO for HPSP and a 2-yr ADSO for AEGD.
Click to expand...

this is correct, but, both the three year adso and the 2 year adso are served concurrently, not back-to-back.
 
NAVY DDS 2010 said:
Memorandum from whom???? I could have sent out a memo and it wouldn't mean much. State who the memo was from as part of the source. Otherwise, it is hearsay. Thanks.
Click to expand...

This memorandum was sent out by Rafael C. Montagno COL, GS Director, Health Service to all the 4th year students who were in the process of applying for the AEGD program.
 
check out this link:

http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/passthru.aspx?docid=611

particularly, look at item #10 in the right column, "There is a 2-year service obligation which will be served concurrently with all other active duty service obligation (ADSO) that the Service member has."

this statement is true and the same for all specialties, except the 1-year AEGD. (except of course the number of years that are incurred by the specialty) the ADSO from an HPSP program and any ADSO from a specialty residency are served concurrently - not back-to-back.
 
Hey BQUAD,
I am currently in my second year of dental school on the Army HPSP. I'm curious what has your experience been like in Iraq. Do you generally feel safe or is it pretty crazy. Are you generally in the so called "green zone"? What are some of your experiences?
 
Iraq is an experience you will never forget that's for sure. My tour over here is different from most dentists because I am stuck in a detainee camp where I don't get to treat soldiers all the time. I'm out of the green zone south of Baghdad in an area that's considered "pretty safe" but you never feel safe when the rockets start coming in, luckily we've stayed safe and had few injuries from them.

My practice here is more OS because the Iraqis have little to no dental care. I've been stuck here for 14 months now with little chance of using most of the skills I have. I do a little operative, rarely endo, a fair amount of cleanings on our soldiers, and then lots of extractions, all my other skills have deteriorated.

The bases here aren't bad, they have a some support, gym, small PX, cafeteria, even Pizza Hut, Subway, and Burger King (but your better off saving your money and eating for free). Not much to do besides watch DVD's and workout in your off time, they have some sports tournaments. The weather ranges from 130 in the summer to below freezing at night in the winter so you are definitely in a world of extremes. When the rain comes all the dust turns to mud.

I just hope they drop these 15 month tours soon, it is way too long to be stuck over here. Hopefully by the time you graduate, they will have at least some of the tours down to 6 months for dentists.
 
Just a quick note. There were four Army guys in my 2007 graduating class. Two of us got our first choice of Germany, one got his first choice of Ft. Knox, and one got his second choice of Washington D.C. (his first choice was Germany). The two of us in Germany got really lucky and were assigned to PROFIS positions, although we call them DENTAC positions or TDA, as opposed to TOE. I really don't know a lot of the details, but the TOE dentists are all getting ready to deploy for 15 months and complain about doing dentistry maybe 2 days a week. It's true, I do a lot of operative and exams, but I have been spending time with the Orthodontist and even some with the Pediatric dentist here. Done probably a dozen molar pulpectomies and one single canal RCT. Probably 20 extractions, 4-5 of which were uncomplicated wisdom teeth. Laid a couple of flaps. No crowns, but we do huge full coverage heroic amalgams. In contrast, the guy in D.C. has done probably 40 crowns, still lots of operative, a few extractions, don't really have a lot of details on what else. We love Germany, and are glad we are here. Everybody here extends for one year so you spend all four years here. I'm not in that big of a clinic, only 3 active duty dentists, four contractor dentists, two of them are general, then the ortho and pedo. We have two RDH and two X2's (the army's version of a hygienist). None of our assistants have much experience, about half are military and half are military spouses. None of us did the one-year AEGD, although we probably would have if it had counted as a year of payback. I don't know anyone who is planning on staying in, that was probably a large part of the decision. I am thinking about applying for the OMFS program, but there aren't any OMFS near me, so how am I going to get a letter of reccomendation?
 
How is the AGD at Ft. Lewis
 
The last I heard, in order to apply for the OMFS program, they require you to spend two weeks with a oral sugeon, in sort of a crash course on OS. This is to immerse you in the residency experience and make sure it is something you'd like to do, their real goal is to try to eliminate the people who get to the residency then don't think they want to do it anymore. The Army should send you TDY to do it, and that should give you an opportunity to feel it out and to get a letter of recommendation from a surgeon. A letter from a senior general dentist will help also, since all the 2 yr AEGD residents spent time with oral surgeons. Good luck, enjoy Germany.
 
BQuad said:
The last I heard, in order to apply for the OMFS program, they require you to spend two weeks with a oral sugeon, in sort of a crash course on OS.

A letter from a senior general dentist will help also, since all the 2 yr AEGD residents spent time with oral surgeons.
Click to expand...

it isn't completely required, but highly encouraged. i didn't do this since i was in the AEGD residency at the time and they wouldn't let me leave for two weeks.

letters of recommendation must come from either your commander, or a specialist in the area you are applying for - if you are applying for oms, then they require a letter from an oms.
 
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