dexadental said:
Is it possible for one to specialize within the navy in orthodontics? I've heard conflicting opinions on this. I would think that if you are a soldier/sailor/anything where you may be called upon to fight, you probably won't be allowed to wear braces or have orthodontic treatment. Does anyone know if they have ortho programs available?
I served as a Navy dentist for 4 years and now am in ortho residency, not navy sponsored. It is possible to specialize in the Navy, but you should know a few things. There are not very many spots, I think there are only about 16 total Navy orthodontists, so it's pretty competitive. You're basically right about the duty stations. If you're stationed in US the patients you see are typically "non-deployable" and are adults, lots of surgical cases. Overseas, Navy families are seen, so you'll have more of a typical ortho populations, lots of kids. To become an Navy orthodontist, you must first apply with the Navy for sponsorship to attend an orthodontic residency program. There are probably about 20-30 applicants for the 2, sometimes 1 or 3, Navy sponsored spots each year. The Navy, likewise with the Army and Air Force, you'll be selected based on more than just regular criteria that non military applicants (class rank, GPA, board scores, etc). Generally this means that you'll have to serve sometime as a general dentist in the military, before you'd be considered to have a "strong" application for Navy sponsorship for ortho. I know there are exceptions to this rule, but this is typically how it works. The applicants that are selected for sponsorship are typically pretty competitive for tradtional programs. The sponsored residents will also likely have pretty strong military achievements too. Meeting or knowing the right people in the Navy doesn't hurt either. I worked with one with one sponsored applicant, who in addition to having an MS and being 2nd in her DS class, was also the rescue swimmer on her ship, served 14 mths at sea, and was on the Navy Triathlon team. Unless things have changed, the Navy has only one position/yr at Wilford Hall Medical Center in Texas, which serves as the military orthodontics residency program. I think the Army and Air Force have 2 residents each per year there.
If you are selected as Navy sponsored "out service," you'll then have to appply and MATCH for civilian programs just like everyone else. Some programs have "agreements" to accept a military sponsored residents (if the resident chooses that program), but there is the possibility that a Navy sponsored applicant may still not be selected. Off the top of my head, I currently know the Navy has ortho residents at USC and UW, in addition to Wilford. You will have a minimum 3 year obligation to "payback" to the Navy for their sponsorship. During residency you'll get your regular military pay minus a bonus of about $5,000.
I can say that if you choose to get out of the Navy after your obligated time, you'll probably pretty competitive with a unique background in your application. In the last 2 years, I know of 6 people who got out the Navy and are currently in ortho programs. Best of luck with you decison.
