The primary mission of the Corps is to prevent or remedy dental conditions that may interfere with the performance of duty by members of the active naval forces.

On 22 August 1912, the second session of the 62nd Congress passed an act (later signed by President Howard Taft) that established the Dental Corps.

In October 1912, Emory Bryant and William N. Cogan were the first two dental officers to enter active duty with the U.S. Navy.

In 1916, Congress authorized the president to appoint and commission dental surgeons in the Navy at the rate of one dentist per 1000 enlisted personnel.

During World War I, the Surgeon General of the United States mandated that dental officers complete a 10-week course in advanced oral surgery at Naval Station Great Lakes.

The memory of LTJG Osborne lives on today with an annual award given in his name to the junior dental officer who exemplifies the qualities of high character, superior leadership, and devotion to duty.

In 1927, Navy Regulations authorized dental treatment to the officers and men on the retired list; before that, only enlisted were treated.

During this era, Navy Dentistry began to focus heavily on prevention of disease, which was unique at the time and is now a quality that distinguishes the Corps today.

Numerous dental officers were killed in action aboard war ships and in major battles in Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima.

In June 1944, the first female dentist in the armed forces, LT Sara Krout, DC, USNR, reported to Great Lakes, IL.

"Bill" Ferguson, DDS, USN (dec.) who played a significant role in the desegregation of the military and in the creation of the State of Israel.

Korea marked the first time in history that enlisted men of the Navy wore dental rating badges into combat.

One such man was DN Thomas A. Christianson, awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his gallant efforts while serving with the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion.

The late Dr. Ferguson was also mainly responsible for his creative ideas regarding sit-down, four-handed dentistry, Expanded Duty, and Dental Aux.

In addition to caring for Marines, dental personnel participated in many civic action programs rendering humanitarian aid to Vietnamese civilians.

Two dental officers assigned to the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit coordinated emergency trauma care with 15 hospital corpsmen, treating 65 casualties in the first two hours following the explosion.

Additional dental personnel aboard the USS Iwo Jima joined medical teams ashore to provide care and support for survivors.

Without regard for personal safety, five members ran into the burning building to save lives, while others began initial triage and treatment of the injured.

Dental personnel continue to play a significant role in peacekeeping and nation-building through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in third world countries.