Exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographs (X-ray films) as prescribed by written or verbal order of a dental officer.
Preparing dental materials and medications used in patient treatment.
Sharpening, disinfecting, preparing, sterilizing instruments and equipment. Performing operator and preventive maintenance on dental equipment.
Maintaining cleanliness of dental spaces. Rendering dental and medical aid to casualties of war or peacetime disasters.
Performing such other duties in caring for dental patients and dental facilities as may be directed by those in authority.
The duties listed above are just a handful of assignments that you may perform. You may want to enhance your naval career by receiving additional training. Contact your career counselor if you have any questions regarding additional training. Next, we will discuss the different dental career paths you can take.
The Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) system is used to identify enlisted personnel with special skills, knowledge, or aptitude for filling billets and other management purposes. Enlisted dental personnel must be familiar with the Manual of Enlisted Manpower and Personnel Classifications and Occupational Standards, NAVPERS 18068.
Technician NECs are used to identify personnel with special skills within the dental rating. All dental-related NECs are contained in the 8700 series. As a Dental Assistant, Basic, Class A school graduate you will receive a rating designator or a source rating of DT. Sometimes you might see the source rating of DT followed by quad zeros (for example, DT-0000). This is not an NEC, but is used when no entry or special NEC is assigned to your billet (job). The DT-0000 identifier is used by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS-407, dental detailers) for job assignment identification and the Enlisted Personnel Management Center (EPMAC) for the functional placement of basic Dental Assistants to specific billets.
If you have an opportunity to be assigned with the Fleet Marine Force or a naval construction battalion, you will attend a Class C school and graduate with an NEC of DT-8707. This NEC is carried only when actually assigned to a billet with the FMF or NMCB. When you finish your tour and roll back to shore or a sea duty assignment, the NEC of DT-8707 will not be assigned. You still hold this NEC in inventory and can be activated again if serving with the FMF, NMCB, or in a billet that requires an NEC of 8707. Following is a description of the 8707 NEC.
DT-8707, Field Service Technician: Assists dental officer in providing treatment in the field. Provides technical and administrative assistance to support the mission and functions of Navy and Marine Corps field units. Maintains organizational level of Authorized Dental Allowance Lists (ADALs). Prepares, reviews, and coordinates logistics requirements. Ensures the observance and the practice of field sanitary measures. Augments and assists medical personnel in providing emergency medical care to field or combat casualties to include assistance with medical evacuation procedures.
If you possess the necessary qualifications as listed in the Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC), you may request specialized training at a Dental Technician, Class C School. Upon graduation you will be assigned an NEC in the 8700 series, which we will look at next. Specialized training is highly competitive and is available to dental personnel in the many areas of dentistry.
Closed-looped means that once you earn that NEC you will be assigned to that NEC and billet requirement. The following are closed-looped NECs that are currently available to basic Dental Techni- cians. Full descriptions for these NECs and requirements can be found in the Enlisted Manpower and Personnel Occupational Standards and Classifications, NAVPERS 18068.
DT-8703, Dental Administrative Technician: Assists the dental officer in organizing and managing a dental clinic or facility. Performs advanced dental administrative, logistical, and financial duties. Provides technical assistance in organizing and conducting dental health education programs and enlisted training. Assists in planning and coordinating fleet (operational) medical and dental support.
DT-8708, Dental Hygienist: An out-of-service 2-year accredited training program that produces anContinue Reading