The U.S. Army Dental Command, known as DENCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Command

United States Army Medical Command

The U.S. Army Medical Command is a major command of the U.S. Army that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility medical, dental, and veterinary treatment facilities, providing preventive care, medical research and development and training institutions.MEDCOM is commanded by the...

 that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility dental treatment facilities, preventive care, dental research, development and training institutions, dental treatment to ensure the oral health and readiness of the force, a trained dental force for worldwide deployment, and structures for evolving missions of the Army.

Structure

DENCOM headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...

 is located at Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....

, Texas - also the location of MEDCOM's headquarters. DENCOM is divided into Regional Dental Commands and the Army Dental Laboratory that oversee day-to-day operations in military treatment facilities, exercising command and control over the medical treatment facilities in their regions. Generally, these RDC's geographically overlap with their corresponding Regional Medical Commands. There are five regional commands: Europe Regional Dental Command, Northern Regional Dental Command, Pacific Regional Dental Command, Southern Regional Dental Command, and Western Regional Dental Command.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission
To provide Soldier-focused dental services in a timely and cost effective manner that supports America’s Army.

Vision
Americas Leader in Warrior Centered Oral Care.

Dental Corps' Values
The Dental Corps will support the Army values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage while ensuring the delivery of compassionate, competent patient care.

History

While Army Dentistry dates back to as early as 1872, DENCOM is a relatively recent creation. Provisionally activated on November 1, 1993, its creation established Army dental service delivery under a dental command with worldwide authority over all TDA dental units. Subordinate to the DENCOM were eight Dental Service Support Areas (DSSA). It is these DSSAs that were later reorganized into what are now known as RDCs.

See also

• United States Army Medical Command
  United States Army Medical Command
  The U.S. Army Medical Command is a major command of the U.S. Army that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility medical, dental, and veterinary treatment facilities, providing preventive care, medical research and development and training institutions.MEDCOM is commanded by the...
  
  
• U.S. Army
• Army Dental Command, Fort Sam Houston, TX
• Army Medical Department, Fort Sam Houston, TX
• Douglas Eads Foster
  Douglas Eads Foster
  Douglas Eads Foster was a Los Angeles, California, dentist who served on the City Council of that city between 1927 and 1929.-Biography:...
  
  , helped set up United States Dental Corps in World War I