activities. They serve as staff surgeons of field commands and major overseas
commands, advise the commander and staff on health matters affecting the command,
and exercise technical control of all health activities in the command's geographical
area except those directly under the command of the SG. They are assigned to those
duties in which their qualifications are necessary for functional performance.
Section II. THE DENTAL CORPS
3-8.
a. Mission. The DC supports the AMEDD mission by performing those
professional dental duties directly related to the science of dentistry as practiced by the
dental profession. Members of the US Army DC promote and conserve oral health;
prevent and treat oral diseases, injuries, and deficiencies among military personnel; and
perform approved dental research.
b. Composition. The DC consists exclusively of commissioned officers that are
qualified doctors of dental surgery or dental medicine. They are identified by their
branch insignia of a gold caduceus with a black "D" superimposed upon it (see figure 3-
1). The area of concentration identifiers (AOC) applicable to the DC are:
63A--Dental Officer
63B--General Dental Officer
63C--Oral Medicine Officer
63D--Peridontist
63E--Endodonist
63F--Prosthodontist
63H--Preventive Dentistry/Dental Public Health
63K--Pedodontist
63M--Orthodontist
63N-oral Surgeon
63P--Oral Pathologist
63R--Executive Dental Officer (Commander)
3-9.
UTILIZATION OF DENTAL CORPS OFFICERS
A DC officer's time should be devoted (to the maximum extent possible) to
actions and procedures for which he has been specially trained with a minimum of time
given to those duties which can be adequately performed under their direction by other
AMEDD personnel. He should not be detailed as a member of courts-martial or
nonprofessional boards, committees, or be assigned to other duties in which dental
training is not essential unless regulations specifically stipulate his detail to such
positions. Similarly, every effort consistent with due process of law is made to use
reports, depositions, or affidavits submitted by the DC officer as testimony in preference
to requiring his presence as a witness.
MD0004
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