Nobody in my squadron can answer my question about getting dental braces

Question

I want to get dental braces and I've already asked the on-base dentist office if they would give them to me. The dentist said that the military won't do it for cosmetic reasons only for if your teeth are actually hurting/harming you. So I decided to just go ahead and pay for them myself at a civilian dentist office. I've been asking everyone in my squadron if I have to get permission from somebody first (because you are non-deployable if you have braces on) and nobody seems to know the answer. Does anyone on here in the Air Force know if I can just go to a civilian dentist and get the braces myself without any repercussions from the Air Force?

Answer 1

You need to ask the denist and be more agressive about getting the facts on paper. This makes no sense. Leave the 'barracks (or dorm in your case) lawyers' out of it. Talk to the dental folks and your leaders. Go up the 'chain'. Everyone has a boss. Find the reg and know it. If your unit isn't up for deployment, there shouldn't be a problem.

so get the facts, the regs and have them vs. a 'yes' from someone here.

Answer 2

You need to ask your chain of command specifically about it.  In the army we can get them but they must be removed prior to deploying.  Try to get more information but be respectful, obviously.  If your local dental clinic has the program they can give them to you as long as you aren't deploying soon.  The idea isn't "that service member has braces so they won't deploy," it's "that service member has braces, so they will have them removed by (insert date prior to wheels up here) or they will face UCMJ action and have them removed in Kuwait."

Answer 3

If the Air Force decides to deploy you then you will be forced to have them removed no matter what stage of treatment you are in.  You are only "officially" non-deployable if the Air Force puts them on your teeth.

It's like the Air Force dentist said, if it's medically necessary they'll do it for you, if it's cosmetic, in their opinion, they will not do it.

Answer 4

if you are in a deployable billet( as in not an instructor or student) then you will get into trouble if you get braces on your own.  you have to ALREADY be non deployable, you don;t get pout into that category just because you get braces put in.  

if you fall into a non deployable category, you still need permission from your CoC.  

Answer 5

I've seen/known a number of people who had braces, although in the Army, and the Army provided them as well.  You have to be more persistent in getting answers.  Don't accept half answers and "I don't knows" but move to the next person until someone can be definitive.  

Answer 6

You should always talk to your superiors before you have something like this done. You are in the military and are their property. You could get an Article 15 for this.