Navy HPSP

[Okabe]

I was recently offered HPSP for the Navy. I am going to take the offer. I attend an expensive private university and I’ve wanted to do HPSP since I found out about it in undergrad. Can any current Naval dentists or prior give some insight what a normal day looks like? Is there anything you wish you would’ve known before you got in? Just curious what it will look like once I graduate. I appreciate your time in advance.

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[jiataoy]

I work out of a clinic on the Jacksonville, NC marine base. Day to day is quite similar to my experiences working at public health dental clinics during dental school. Light patient load, mostly restorative, good amount of simple pros, endo once in a while. Overall I'm happy with my job but not thinking of staying in.

Know that these days every Navy LT is expected to either go on a ship or go marines, so if you're not interested in going out to sea for months at a time you'll have to go Okinawa or Jacksonville, maybe San Diego if you're very lucky. During dental school and during your AEGD/credentialling tour year try to get as much extraction experience as you can working with the OS guys, as extractions are pretty rare for me. Surgical non-existant, as they don't want anyone without an AEGD/GPR even doing surgical ext.

 

[bird2youth]

Hours depends on blue side or green side command because each CO determines the schedule whether it be from 0645-1600, 0700-1600, or 0645-1515. Normal day in green side is morning muster huddle with clinic at 0645-0700. Lots of contractors bitching and moaning about actually working during their morning set up. Start seeing patients by 0715 due to how slow those dental assistants /inexperience enlisted move, or depending who is working radiographs that day which can bottleneck the exams. You should expect 15-21 boring exams that makes you want to pull out your own teeth. If it's procedure day, you may see around 4-6 patients ranging from restorative to fixed (if your clinic has CEREC, then that is in the mix where you're doing all the work and usually block 2-3 hours time slots). It all depends on your clinic and its dental capabilities (how many dental officers onboard, what type of military units you're treating- i.e. infantry patient population don't brush their teeth, and department head leadership). Endodontics is rare and most will be referred to specialists on base. Military dentistry is set up for failure, limiting general dentists skills drastically. Enjoy the military life, get your travel in and burn your leave when you can. Start a family during active duty, it's the perfect time. It's not a bad ride whatsoever, don't regret my decision, but ready to separate.

 

[knewstance]

Endodontics is rare and most will be referred to specialists on base. Military dentistry is set up for failure, limiting general dentists skills drastically.

I agree with everything you said, with exception in this topic. I feel like I'm given the time to really perfect my skills with cad/cam, implant restorations (never allowed to place them), endo, and surgical exts. But this only comes at times when readiness is acceptable and we are doing enough exams.

 

[bird2youth]

I agree with everything you said, with exception in this topic. I feel like I'm given the time to really perfect my skills with cad/cam, implant restorations (never allowed to place them), endo, and surgical exts. But this only comes at times when readiness is acceptable and we are doing enough exams.

You're right. I think it depends on the clinic. Some clinics focus solely on operative and simple extraction. Some clinics have numerous exposure to endodontic and surgical. I know a handful of dental officers who got great Endo and surgery exposure. Military dentistry can allow doctors to master their craft, for sure.

 

[Molar Whisperer]

Hours depends on blue side or green side command because each CO determines the schedule whether it be from 0645-1600, 0700-1600, or 0645-1515. Normal day in green side is morning muster huddle with clinic at 0645-0700. Lots of contractors bitching and moaning about actually working during their morning set up. Start seeing patients by 0715 due to how slow those dental assistants /inexperience enlisted move, or depending who is working radiographs that day which can bottleneck the exams. You should expect 15-21 boring exams that makes you want to pull out your own teeth. If it's procedure day, you may see around 4-6 patients ranging from restorative to fixed (if your clinic has CEREC, then that is in the mix where you're doing all the work and usually block 2-3 hours time slots). It all depends on your clinic and its dental capabilities (how many dental officers onboard, what type of military units you're treating- i.e. infantry patient population don't brush their teeth, and department head leadership). Endodontics is rare and most will be referred to specialists on base. Military dentistry is set up for failure, limiting general dentists skills drastically. Enjoy the military life, get your travel in and burn your leave when you can. Start a family during active duty, it's the perfect time. It's not a bad ride whatsoever, don't regret my decision, but ready to separate.

Day to day is really similar to USAF and this was in 1998. I disagree that military dentistry is a set up for failure. It is not as efficient as in PP but I had about 300 CE hrs in 4 years and really enjoyed my time. I had a female colleague who had 3 babies in 4 years. She received regular pay for not working.