Dental
The Coast Guard has 53 dentists in 30 Coast Guard clinics, which are located mainly along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Coast Guard dental officers provide a full range of services, including operative, endodontics, periodontics, exodontia, prosthodontics, and limited orthodontics. Most patients are active duty members of the Coast Guard or other military services.
There are professional opportunities for long-term training. Primarily, dental officers are sent to a two-year Comprehensive Dentistry residency. Other residencies may be available based on the needs of the Coast Guard’s dental program.
The Coast Guard dental program has the highest retention rate of dentists of all the uniformed services. Dental officers who would like to transfer from other PHS agencies or uniformed services are welcome to apply.
Dentists that are interested in joining the Coast Guard dental program must first be commissioned by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). Information about commissioning can be obtained by calling the USPHS at 800-279-1605 or by visiting their web site at http://www.usphs.gov. Information regarding opportunities for dentists serving with the Coast Guard can be found via the following link: http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/officer-opportunities/programs/health-professions.
Once commissioned, incoming dental officers will be assigned to a Coast Guard dental clinic. For assistance with the USPHS application please contact CAPT Wade McConnell at 202-475-5171 or email at Wade.B.McConnell@uscg.mil. For further information on the Coast Guard dental program please contact:
CAPT Stephanie Burrell
Attn: Chief Dental Officer (CG-1122)
United States Coast Guard Stop 7907
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20593-7907
Stephanie.M.Burrell@uscg.mil