Military service requires stringent medical and physical standards to ensure all personnel are fit for worldwide deployment and demanding duty environments. Dental health is a component of these readiness requirements, and the presence of orthodontic appliances, such as braces, is a frequently questioned topic for potential recruits. Eligibility rules vary significantly depending on whether an individual is attempting to enlist or is already serving on active duty. Understanding these regulations is essential for anyone considering a career in the armed forces while undergoing or needing orthodontic care.
Eligibility for Military Service
Active orthodontic treatment is a disqualifying condition for initial entry into the United States Military; an applicant cannot be sworn in with braces on their teeth. This rule applies to all types of active appliances, including traditional mounted braces, clear aligners like Invisalign, and other corrective devices. Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03, which governs medical standards for enlistment, explicitly lists current orthodontic appliances for continued active treatment as preventing accession.
Treatment must be fully completed and all fixed or removable appliances removed before the applicant can finalize their enlistment at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). This requirement exists because the military cannot guarantee the continuous, specialized care necessary during initial service phases. The first several months are spent in basic training and technical schools, environments that lack on-site orthodontic specialists and time for regular appointments.
Applicants undergoing treatment can join the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) to reserve a future ship date. A civilian or military orthodontist must provide documentation certifying that active treatment will be completed and braces removed before the scheduled date to be sworn into active duty. Failure to complete treatment on time results in the cancellation of the enlistment contract. Retainers are permissible, provided all active orthodontic movement has finished.
Specific Branch Enlistment Regulations
All branches of the armed forces require the removal of active orthodontic appliances before accession. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard all maintain strict adherence to this completion rule. This ensures applicants are prepared for the rigors of initial entry training without specialized dental needs, preventing ongoing orthodontic appointments from interfering with the training pipeline.
The Navy and Marine Corps require individuals to be “de-bracketed” before shipping out to Recruit Training or Officer Candidate School. The Air Force and Space Force enforce the same requirement but may be slightly more flexible regarding minor post-treatment appliances, such as clear, non-corrective retainers, once treatment is finalized. All branches operate under the principle that a recruit must be medically and dentally ready for deployment anywhere in the world upon completion of initial training. This standard prohibits any appliance requiring protracted, specialized care.
Orthodontic Treatment During Basic Training and Deployment
The environment of basic training and subsequent initial assignments is incompatible with active orthodontic care. Recruits undergo intense physical activity and rigorous field training, which poses a risk of injury to the mouth and gums from fixed appliances. Furthermore, the highly structured schedule does not accommodate the monthly or bi-weekly appointments necessary for adjustments and monitoring by a specialty orthodontist.
Once assigned to an operational unit, active braces complicate deployment readiness. Military dental facilities focus on maintaining personnel readiness, not providing elective or long-term specialized care in a field environment. A service member with active braces is often classified as non-deployable, preventing them from joining their unit on missions or overseas assignments. Consequently, service members may be required to pause the active movement of teeth or have appliances removed entirely before deploying.
Getting Braces While Active Duty
Service members who have successfully enlisted and completed initial training can pursue orthodontic treatment, but the process is highly regulated and limited. Braces for active duty service members (ADSMs) are generally approved only when deemed medically necessary by a military dentist. Examples include correcting malocclusion resulting from trauma or facilitating other readiness-related dental procedures. Purely cosmetic treatment is not typically covered or approved through the Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP).
The approval process for medically necessary braces is extensive and requires command authorization, as treatment temporarily impacts deployability. The military dental facility (DTF) submits a formal request, including a unit commander endorsement acknowledging the ADSM will be non-deployable for the treatment duration. Treatment is usually provided only at major military dental facilities within the Continental United States (CONUS) due to the required coordination and monitoring.
Active duty members seeking elective treatment that is not medically necessary must usually pay out-of-pocket and seek care from a civilian provider. Even then, the service member must obtain permission from their unit commander to ensure the treatment complies with service policies and does not interfere with duty requirements. If the service member receives Permanent Change of Station orders to a location without a military orthodontist, they become responsible for the cost of continuing treatment in the civilian sector.
When Waivers Are Considered
Waivers for disqualifying medical conditions, including orthodontic issues, are exceptions, not a standard alternative. For initial applicants with active braces, a waiver is extremely rare and almost never granted for full, ongoing treatment. While Department of Defense standards allow for medical waivers, this process is reserved for unusual circumstances and decided case-by-case based on current recruiting needs.
Waivers are more often considered for service members already on active duty who require treatment for retention or to maintain readiness. For example, a temporary, non-corrective appliance deemed medically required for a short period might be approved to prevent separation. The primary consideration for any waiver is whether the condition or appliance will interfere with the individual’s ability to complete training, perform duties without limitation, and adapt to any operational environment.