MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- On April 2, 1948, a group of Sailors began a tradition of exceptional service as Navy dental technicians.
In the early years of the 20th century, Navy dentistry did not exist. This meant that Sailors and Marines with teeth problems had to see civilian dentists, paying out of their own pockets. While deployed or at remote duty stations, many Sailors and Marines lacked even that option.
In the years since, the dental technician community grew into a professional organization ready to perform under any conditions.
The Navy dentists, like many civilian ones, are assisted by dental technicians. DTs have a variety of "chairside," laboratory and administrative duties. Some are qualified in prosthetics (making and fitting artificial teeth), dental X-ray techniques, clinical laboratory procedures, pharmacy and chemistry, or maintenance and repair of dental equipment.
"The dental technician is a prestigious rate committed to quality customer service," said Petty Officer 2nd class Jacquelyen Derry, 11th Dental Company, 3rd Dental Battalion dental administrative technician. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity to serve, I enjoy doing what I do and helping people."
Dental technicians earned a unique distinction under a provision of the 1947 Army-Navy Medical Service Corps Act. This allowed the Secretary of the Navy to create new specific dental rates. The new structure was ratified on April 2, 1948. The dental technician rating was finally a reality.
The new titles for the dental technician ratings were dental recruit, dental apprentice, dentalman, dental technicians third, second, and first class, and chief dental technician. Later the rates of senior chief and master chief dental technicians was added in 1959.
"We are all dental assistants," said Petty Officer 2nd class Lisa Davis, 11th Dental Company, 3rd Dental Battalion dental hygienist. "We all need to be operationally ready. We have to be ready to deploy just like the Marines and Sailors."
Corporal Addam Baker, Station postal clerk, agrees.
"Without the dental corps, the Marine Corps couldn't accomplish its mission," said Baker. "It's just one way the Navy-Marine Corps team works together to serve their country."