About this Unit
Naval Dental Clinic Orlando, FL, was established to provide comprehensive dental care to Navy personnel, dependents, and retirees in the Central Florida region. Operational during the latter half of the 20th century, the clinic supported the training mission of the adjacent Naval Training Center Orlando by ensuring the dental readiness of recruits and staff. The clinic was staffed by Navy dental officers, hygienists, and support personnel, offering a range of preventive and restorative services. Following the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, Naval Dental Clinic Orlando was closed in 1995, as Naval Training Center Orlando was decommissioned.
Historical Facts
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Establishment: The Naval Dental Clinic Orlando was established in the early 1960s to provide dental care to Navy personnel and their families stationed at the Orlando Naval Training Center (NTC).
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Support Role: The clinic played a vital role in supporting the Navy’s Recruit Training Command, ensuring thousands of recruits were dentally fit for duty each year.
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Vietnam War Contributions: During the Vietnam War, the clinic provided pre-deployment dental screenings and treatments for sailors and Marines heading to Southeast Asia.
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Women in Dentistry: The clinic was among the first Navy dental facilities in the region to have female dental officers serving alongside their male counterparts.
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Advanced Technology: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the clinic was known for incorporating cutting-edge dental technology, such as panoramic X-ray machines and advanced sterilization techniques.
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Community Involvement: Personnel from the clinic regularly participated in public health outreach, including school dental health programs and local oral hygiene education campaigns.
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Training Center Integration: The dental clinic was fully integrated into the Orlando NTC’s medical complex, working closely with the adjacent Naval Hospital and supporting the healthcare needs of a large military population.
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Base Closure: With the announcement of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process in the early 1990s, the clinic began winding down operations, officially closing along with the Orlando NTC in 1995.
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Dental Readiness: The clinic was instrumental in maintaining the overall dental readiness of the fleet, often being cited as a model facility during Navy dental inspections and visits.
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Legacy: Although closed, the legacy of the Naval Dental Clinic Orlando endures through its former staff, many of whom went on to serve in leadership positions throughout Navy Medicine and civilian dental practices.
