{{Short description|Dental services provider to the British Armed Forces}} {{use British English|date=July 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} '''Defence Dental Services''' ('''DDS''') is a tri-service dental services provider to the British Armed Forces.
The service forms part of the MoD Defence Medical Services branch and employs approximately 9,100 personnel drawn from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force as well as civilian staff. The service is headquartered at DMS Whittington, near Lichfield in Staffordshire.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DMS/OurTeams/DefenceDentalServicesdds.htm |title=Ministry of Defence | MicroSite | DMS | Our Teams | Defence Dental Services (DDS) |publisher=Mod.uk |date=2007-02-20 |accessdate=2012-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=882 |title=Defence Dental Services (DDS) |publisher=NHS Careers |date= |accessdate=2012-04-29}}</ref> DDS controls 12 regional headquarters, each headed by a Principle Dental Officer and provides dental services to personnel on active operations throughout the world.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
The Defence Dental Services organisation was established on 1 April 2005, replacing the Defence Dental Agency (DDA).<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=UK |title=Defence Dental Agency: Disestablishment |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2005-01-18/debates/0cebb80f-12f6-46ad-aed2-de0b7e2b2005/DefenceDentalAgencyDisestablishment? |house=House of Lords |volume=668 |date=18 January 2005 |column=WS21 |speaker=Lord Bach |position=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence }}</ref> Prior to 1996 dental services had been separately managed by the Royal Naval Dental Service (established in 1920), the Royal Army Dental Corps (established in 1921) and the RAF Dental Branch (established in 1930).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Quentin |title=Military dentistry themed issue |journal=British Dental Journal |date=April 2021 |volume=230 |issue=7 |page=383 |doi=10.1038/s41415-021-2843-0 |pmid=33837306 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-021-2843-0}}</ref> On 1 March 1996 the three dental service headquarters were combined to form the DDA.<ref>{{Hansard|url=1996/feb/29/defence-dental-agency}}</ref> The three branches continue to maintain their individual service identities, but as part of a single, tri-service command structure.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120415140750/http://www.gdc-uk.org/Dentalprofessionals/Education/Pages/Dental-therapist-qualifications.aspx DDS hygiene programs and qualifications]. From the General Dental Council.
Category:Dental organisations based in the United Kingdom Category:Health in Staffordshire Category:Lichfield District Category:Medical units and formations of the United Kingdom Category:Military history of Staffordshire Category:Organisations based in Staffordshire
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