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Office Visit: Active Duty by Krista Houstoun, Assistant Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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Captain John Lake Jr., a 2009 graduate of The Medical University of South Carolina, lives in Hawaii, gets 30 days of paid vacation each year and has zero student loan debt – quite the fairy-tale setup for someone who graduated dental school three years ago. How did he manage to land such an idyllic situation? He joined the Army. We had the chance to sit down with Capt. Lake to learn what military dentistry is really like and how it helps new graduates achieve a professional head start.

First of all, what made you choose to go into dentistry?
Lake: When I was in college I became interested in the medical field. After shadowing and talking to several physicians, I couldn’t decide if that was the way I wanted to go. My grandfather, who is a retired dentist, suggested I shadow a couple of dentists. I did and really enjoyed the lifestyle and the immediate help you can offer people. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

How did you end up as a military dentist? What appealed to you about that option rather than going into private practice?
Lake: When I was finishing up undergrad and was accepted to dental school, I began to get anxious about my future. I realized that when I finished dental school in four years I would have to set up a practice somewhere. This made me anxious because most people are financially obligated to stay in that location in order to pay off student loans and the idea of settling down for life in just four years scared me. I looked into several options and the military stood out as the best. Not only do you get to serve your country, they completely pay for school and give you the opportunity to live in different areas of the country and world.

As a dentist, do you have to go through the rigorous physical training famous to the military?
Lake: Yes. Although we are not required to do physical training every morning at 6 a.m. like the majority of the military, we are expected to pass a bi-yearly physical fitness test, which is the exact same as the rest of the military. So, we still have to be physically fit. The Dental Corps also rewards you for doing well on that test with time-off awards.

Where are you currently stationed? Is it far from your family?
Lake: I am currently stationed at Schofield Barracks on the island of O’ahu in Hawaii. My family lives in South Carolina, so it is quite far away. However, living in Hawaii has the advantage of attracting family members to visit frequently!

What does a typical day look like for you?
Lake: Awake at 6 a.m. and report to work at 7:15 a.m.. We are open from 7:15-11:15 a.m., then from 12:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. I see patients whenever the office is open, taking an hour for lunch. I usually work out after work, running and gym. Then relax with my wife after dinner.

Is your office set up like a regular dental office? What's different?
Lake: I work in a very large dental office. We have your typical setup as far as equipment is concerned; however, with such a large population of patients, we have a lot more staff.

What type of patients do you treat? Just military personal?
Lake: While stationed in the United States we only treat active duty military. When stationed in other countries we sometimes treat family members as well.

What procedures do you perform most often? What percent of your patients are emergencies?
Lake: Exams, by far. The Army requires yearly dental exams for all active duty. That being said, I still do a lot of operative and surgery. And emergencies vary. We hold the first two hours of each day open for dental emergencies. I would guess that about 10 percent of my work is from emergencies.

What is the best part of being a military dentist? What advantages do you have over dentists who don't choose this path?
Lake: We have the best patients in the world; they are appreciative of the work and always have great stories to tell. Also, we have almost no price constraints in their treatment. This is, without a doubt, the main advantage over other practices. On a personal note, it is very nice not to have to worry about a paycheck or loans. I get 30 days of paid vacation a year and paid days off on holidays. Also, we get time for continuing education which the military pays for (flight, hotel and fees).

What did the Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP) mean to you when you were in dental school? What did it do for you in terms of a financial incentive?
Lake: The HPSP was a huge benefit both in dental school and even now that I am practicing. In dental school they completely paid for all of my tuition and fees. Not only did they pay for it, I didn't have to deal with the financial office at all. When I arrived at school freshman year, I submitted the paperwork to the finance office and I never saw anything else again. It was as easy as breathing. Also, the military paid for all my books, equipment and some special items (like loupes). In addition to all of that, I received a monthly stipend that helped pay for living expenses. I finished school without any financial debt at all. Now that I am finished with school, it is great not being strapped with that debt. As a dentist I get paid full Captain's (O-) pay plus several dental bonuses.

Please explain the HPSP involvement in the Hawaii externship. Is there an HPSP involvement?
Lake: Yes. Every year HPSP students get 45 days of "active duty" time while they are in school. This doesn't affect their school in any way at all; however, it gives the student the option to do externships and military training if they have the time. When I was in school, I had one summer off and used that active duty time to finish my Officer Basic Leadership Course so that I could graduate school and immediately begin to treat patients. The externship is a program that allows HPSP students to observe at a military facility during those 45 days of active duty time. Most of the time, students are given time by their school between their junior and senior year to do these types of programs. The Army has several locations, including Hawaii. I am the local coordinator for the Hawaii Dental HPSP externship. Students can elect to spend time in the oral surgery department or in the large dental clinic here. There is also a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program for general dentists at my dental clinic, so students get the chance to observe it as well. The students get to see what it is like not only in dental specialties, but in the military as a whole.

What is the most difficult part of military life?
Lake: Not being completely free to choose where to live. Most assignment locations are quite good (I live in Hawaii!), but giving up the freedom of living and practicing where you want is difficult. The assignments department is very good in working with us to get assignments that work for us; however, there is no guarantee that you will get your top choice.


What's the difference between practicing stateside versus practicing abroad when deployed?
Lake: I have not yet deployed, but I can say there are big differences when deployed as a dentist. Before soldiers deploy they are supposed to meet minimum dental health standard. Any issues the dentist thinks might be a problem within a year are supposed to be resolved before deployment. This impacts the deployed dentist by preventing major issues with those soldiers in the combat zone. The majority of the dental work while deployed then becomes emergencies.

Also, if a dentist is deployed to a smaller outpost, with limited medical staff, then that dentist is sometimes utilized for large medical casualty events. I know dentists who have done triage for those types of events and even helped surgeons in the operating room.

What surprised you most about your profession when you graduated from dental school? And what surprised you most about the military?
Lake: Believe it or not... how rewarding it can be. In school we did mostly basic dentistry, but there is a great big world out there. I was very surprised how much improving someone's smile can positively impact his or her life. As far as the military goes, I was surprised how much I learned from the other dentists in the same practice. From highly experienced Colonels to fellow Captains, I have learned a great deal. Their friendship and expertise has been invaluable.

Every dentist has his or her favorite products. Do you get to pick your choice products to order or are they already established?
Lake: It depends on where you practice. My clinic is quite large and so there is another dentist that is in charge of ordering supplies. We have little input on those decisions. However, in smaller military clinics dentists usually have more freedom to order supplies.

What are your professional plans after your time with the military is through?
Lake: Good question. Right now I am enjoying my time in the military and haven't made any plans outside of service.

What dental resources do you use the most (magazines, Web sites, conferences, etc.)?
Lake: I read several different magazines and I try to attend as many conferences as I can. Like I said earlier, the military will send me to a conference every year, and I try to attend local events as well.

What are some things you wish you had known as a dental student that you now know?
Lake: Treatment planning. In school things happen so slowly that it is difficult to see the impact of effective treatment planning. When you graduate, things happen way faster and if you skip a step it will come back to bite you.

If you could give a piece of advice to new graduates considering military dentistry, What would it be?
Lake: I would highly recommend that they speak to a military dentist and/or spend some time shadowing at a military dental clinic. It is great way to see all the things the Dental Corps has to offer.

For more information about shadowing a military dentist or joining the military, visit www.goarmy.com/amedd/dentist/benefits.html
Dentaltown Magazine
October 2025
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