Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/19/2009

Question
What is the entering rank for a Doctor of Dental Surgery entering the Army and/or Air Force. How much is the monthly base pay? What is the additional Professional Pay Allowance for this pay grade;and for how many years is the individual obligated to serve?

Answer
William,
To answer your questions accurately I went to a friend of mine who has been an Army dentist for 14 years.  This is what he had to say:

"Dentists come under special rules in the military, not like the average recruit.  However, Army and AF rules are the same.  It all  depends upon how many years of experience you have.  The more experience you have the higher your rank.  As a minimum you will enter as a Captain.  A good friend of mine entered the Army as a Colonel because he had almost 20 years of experience.  He decided it just wasn't worth it in the civilian world.  He said the cost of repaying a student loan, rent, equipment, supplies, maintenance, insurance, advertising, dwindling customers, and trying to attend schools to keep abreast of changes kept him from making any kind of real profit unless he were to take on a partner or two.

The base pay for a Captain is $3540 per month.  Plus a dentist receives Special Pays that the average military officer doesn't.  Special pays for dental officers include an Accession Bonus (AB), Variable Special Pay (VSP), Board Certified Pay (BCP), Additional Special Pay (ASP), and a Multi-year Retention Bonus (MRB).

- AB is a payment of $60,000 to all qualified dentists who execute a contract to serve on active duty for 4 years.
- VSP is a monthly special pay that is available to all dentists based on years of creditable service.
- BCP is a monthly special pay based on board certification in a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association, Federal Services Board, or American Board of Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, or Oral Radiology. Rates range from $2,500 to $6,000 annually based on years of CSED.
- ASP is payable to all dental officers who execute a contract to remain on active duty for at least 1 year and meet the eligibility requirements. Amounts range from $10,000 to $15,000 annually, depending on CSED.
- MRB is payable to dental officers trained in recognized dental specialties who execute a contract to remain on active duty for a period of 2 to 4 years and who meet the eligibility requirements. The rate of MRB is dependent upon the dental officer's specialty training and length of contract, and ranges from $25,000 (for 2-year commitment)to $50,000 (for 4-year commitment).

So the average dentist starts out right away making pretty good money.  And you're guaranteed that pay every month regardless of how many "customers" you have.  When I come home to my wife at night, I have no worries.  The office will still be there tomorrow with an endless supply of patients.  I haven't had a financial worry since I joined.  (I was in private practice for 8 years.)

Currently the military needs dentists specializing in oral surgery, periodontics, and prosthodontics.(this changes all the time depending upon need.)  Last year they needed endodontics and orthodontics.

I can't say enough about the experience the Army gives you.  It's an excellent way to gain speed, confidence and skills to be an excellent dentist. There's never a shortage of patients because the  Army has a huge population of soldiers and mandatory dental care. You see and do it all!  While my civilian counterparts are dealing with the administrative nightmares of opening a practice, doing 70% hygiene, or doing simple operative procedures just to keep the doors open, the Army will throw you right in with the lions.  Since William is an experienced DDS, he may be instructing new graduates on MOD amalgams, class I,II and III resins, endo, and extractions. The other great thing about working as an Army dentist is you are surrounded by some very experienced professionals.  It's a great way to continue learning from the best!

And if I need supplies, I just order them.  Somebody else worries about the budget and how it's paid for.  Also, the military periodically sends you to school somewhere to learn the latest in new procedures and to conferences around the world.  Just this month I went to the New Orleans dental conference for the IDA annual session to see the technical exhibits and to hear Dr. John Kanca speak on Adhesive Dentistry.  In July I'll be attending the Dental Imaging Conference in Rome, Italy.

Plus, you'll do some things in the military that a civilian dentist would never get to do.  Although you are a dentist, you’re a soldier first.  So when it comes time to play soldier it’s time to drop your handpiece and pickup your rifle.

You may get teased by your civilian peers about deploying to the desert and working in a tent.  It's not what they think.  Field hospitals are not like the Korean War-era MASH units you see on TV.  They're hard shelters with a tent stretched over it.  Mine in Iraq was like two tractor trailer boxes joined together.  Obviously no sand can get in for sanitary reasons.

If you decide to leave the Army after four years you will have ZERO loans to repay while your civilian counterparts are still paying several thouand dollars a month for the next several years.  However, if you try it I don't think you'll be hasty to get out.  I've been in 14 years and loved every minute of it.  I plan on serving at least 14 more!"

William - Sorry for the long answer, but I wanted you to hear it straight from the "horses mouth."

I wish you all the best in whatever you choose.
Colonel H