What are the dental requirements to join the army?

4 Comments

1. goodros says:

   April 23, 2009 at 1:53 am

   If you have bad teeth and you want to enlist, they will still take you, but if you are to be deployed overseas, they will just yank the teeth you are having problems with. Usually, they are very proactive about getting dental problems fixed before you get deployed.
2. PaintTheSkyGrey says:

   April 25, 2009 at 6:21 am

   There aren’t any that I’m aware of (other than the obvious huge abcess that makes you a serious health risk). I came in with a buncha cavities, and they filled them all for me, some of my battle buddies had their wisdom teeth removed, and someone else came in with virtually NO teeth and got a new set (lol).
3. jeeper_peeper321 says:

   April 28, 2009 at 9:04 am

   You basically have to have enough natural teeth to eat.

   or permanent crowns.
4. john says:

   May 25, 2009 at 5:11 am

   Eliza, The official answer to your question would be with your Army recruiter. If he or she is not sure, they can look at the Army regulations describing all requirements. That said, my unofficial answer to you is that your oral health is usually not a factor. Something very severe, like oral cancer, or teeth so far out of alignment that you could not adequately chew would disqualify you. But even people who have many decayed teeth and gum disease are usually accepted. The Army has a program that will improve your teeth and gum problems. Starting while you are in initial training you will be examined and urgent needs tended to. At your assigned duty station they will offer you appointments to get teeth fixed and to recall you for examination. They will insist that your teeth, gums and mouth are heathy enough to be Army Strong.