Life after the Army

[ClosetNerd828]

For those of you that spent a few years (or career) as an Army dentist, how did you feel your skills lined up? Were your skills on par with your civilian counterparts? What challenges did you face? Etc. I direct this at general dentists mostly but any input is appreciated.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Hedgy]

For those of you that spent a few years (or career) as an Army dentist, how did you feel your skills lined up? Were your skills on par with your civilian counterparts? What challenges did you face? Etc. I direct this at general dentists mostly but any input is appreciated.

I was Navy, but I think the experience will generally be similar. I did an AEGD and ship tour where we did everything we wanted. When I got out, I was definitely ready clinically for private practice. Maybe a little slow with some procedures (crowns usually), but speed came quickly. I didn't do much removable in the service and do more in private practice as well as larger restorative and implant cases.

What you find out is that insurance is a big deal in determining what treatment is done. In the military, you say, "we need to do this, this, and this", they schedule and you do it. In private practice, you recommend treatment and they come back with, "how much will it cost and will my insurance cover it?". You manage a staff whereas, at least as a young military dentist, you may manage 1-2 assistants, but not really be involved in their life like in private practice. Taxes and overhead are certainly things you have to manage as well. If you practice in a big city, marketing and branding are more important.

 

[vellnueve]

Id

I was Navy, but I think the experience will generally be similar. I did an AEGD and ship tour where we did everything we wanted. When I got out, I was definitely ready clinically for private practice. Maybe a little slow with some procedures (crowns usually), but speed came quickly. I didn't do much removable in the service and do more in private practice as well as larger restorative and implant cases.

What you find out is that insurance is a big deal in determining what treatment is done. In the military, you say, "we need to do this, this, and this", they schedule and you do it. In private practice, you recommend treatment and they come back with, "how much will it cost and will my insurance cover it?". You manage a staff whereas, at least as a young military dentist, you may manage 1-2 assistants, but not really be involved in their life like in private practice. Taxes and overhead are certainly things you have to manage as well. If you practice in a big city, marketing and branding are more important.

I'd argue that you can spend quite a bit of time being involved in your staff's lives in the .mil

 

[Hedgy]

Id


I'd argue that you can spend quite a bit of time being involved in your staff's lives in the .mil

I guess what I am referring to as they are gone within 3 years of you being stationed there. I've had all of my staff for nearly 10 years.

 

[ClosetNerd828]

Thank you. From what I've read some people were saying in the Army you end up referring most "complicated" cases to a civilian dentist while in the Navy you have more freedom of procedures... May look at a branch change one day

 

[gatorfan99]

Thank you. From what I've read some people were saying in the Army you end up referring most "complicated" cases to a civilian dentist while in the Navy you have more freedom of procedures... May look at a branch change one day

Who told you that?!? Usually off post referrals are done when the military dental clinic is overwhelmed and can't handle treating all the needed patients. Off post referral is also done if you don't have a particular specialist in your clinic and no one is comfortable doing that particular procedure (you see that happen with molar endo in many smaller places)

 

[Hedgy]

I was Navy, but I think the experience will generally be similar. I did an AEGD and ship tour where we did everything we wanted. When I got out, I was definitely ready clinically for private practice. Maybe a little slow with some procedures (crowns usually), but speed came quickly. I didn't do much removable in the service and do more in private practice as well as larger restorative and implant cases.

What you find out is that insurance is a big deal in determining what treatment is done. In the military, you say, "we need to do this, this, and this", they schedule and you do it. In private practice, you recommend treatment and they come back with, "how much will it cost and will my insurance cover it?". You manage a staff whereas, at least as a young military dentist, you may manage 1-2 assistants, but not really be involved in their life like in private practice. Taxes and overhead are certainly things you have to manage as well. If you practice in a big city, marketing and branding are more important.

I would also like to add that you are seeing a diverse population based on age, hence more complex medical histories. You will see very few children or elderly in the service. The military population, for the most part, is pretty healthy.

 

[ClosetNerd828]

Who told you that?!? Usually off post referrals are done when the military dental clinic is overwhelmed and can't handle treating all the needed patients. Off post referral is also done if you don't have a particular specialist in your clinic and no one is comfortable doing that particular procedure (you see that happen with molar endo in many smaller places)

Just some of the heresay Ive come across here on SDN. You seem to vehemently disagree, correct? I hope I am wrong. I love the Army and miss active duty daily. I would love to back as a dentist, just not if my skills will be subpar when I ETS.

 

[gatorfan99]

Just some of the heresay Ive come across here on SDN. You seem to vehemently disagree, correct? I hope I am wrong. I love the Army and miss active duty daily. I would love to back as a dentist, just not if my skills will be subpar when I ETS.

Absolutely I disagree. The thing about doing complex procedures is that in the military (unlike the wild wild west of civilian practice) you have to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency to be able to do a complex procedure. So, do an AEGD and get credentialed to do things like crown lengthening, molar endo, etc and then buddy with your local specialist and let them see you do a few cases - or even better, become a specialist yourself!

 

[AirborneDentist]

I have gone to hands on CE courses and I would say from doing a 2 year, my skills are far superior to civilian counterparts. We were suturing a pig and they had trouble getting through that!

 

[ClosetNerd828]

I have gone to hands on CE courses and I would say from doing a 2 year, my skills are far superior to civilian counterparts. We were suturing a pig and they had trouble getting through that!

Thats good Army training, Sir!

 

[aqz]

I must ask out of ignorance here, but does suturing a pig actually provide good training in dental suturing or some other relevant skill?

 

[ClosetNerd828]

I must ask out of ignorance here, but does suturing a pig actually provide good training in dental suturing or some other relevant skill?

Then you get bacon at the end of your course... cant beat that...

 

[AirborneDentist]

I must ask out of ignorance here, but does suturing a pig actually provide good training in dental suturing or some other relevant skill?

Yes, you learn the different techniques...continuous, interrupted, mattress, etc...