DQ Missing teeth

USMMA2019MOM

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Reading DQ and freaking out... DS has 1 baby tooth that doesn't have an adult tooth under it. We've been told he will need to eventually remove it.
1 of the DQ conditions is "missing teeth"... if he extracts it, he will have a missing tooth, and we don't have the time to get an implant in place before the INDOC.

What can we do?
 
Maybe I'm just stupid, but if he doesn't have it extracted then he has no missing tooth, right? This one is so unusual I'd contact someone who might be able to give you an official answer rather than seeking one here.
 
Honestly....I try and stay positive, but this DoDMERB stuff can be bad.

This looks like an absolute technical disqualification which cannot be re-mediated. The fact of the matter is that he's missing a tooth, and this cannot and will not be overlooked by the DoDMERB if you present them with a simple argument, "Oh...He has a baby tooth in place."

Your only hope at this point is to be granted a waiver....The waiver process is unpredictable but a missing tooth seems something minor which wouldn't affect his ability to perform his duties.

Anyways, make sure there's a back up plan open....

All the best.
 
Isn't it a little late to be figuring all this out? I must be missing something here. He should be medically qualified by now, if not he wouldn't have been accepted.

Did you get a letter from KP about the tooth? Or from DODMERB saying it was a DQ?

If it's from DODMERB and you're DQ'd that prevents you from being accepted and walking in the front door. If it is from the medical folks at KP, that is a whole different story.
 
I can only speculate, but this one seems like a pretty easy waiver to be granted compared to many other things. I wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
Ok. Just to clear things up. He is in top shape and was fully qualified medically. His teeth are great, just this month cleaning the dentist said he recommends implant to replace this baby tooth that still there and can stay there for a few years. Implant process is up to 7 month, we can't start since it assumes first removal of the baby tooth... The logging in packet required dental evaluation, that clearly states that missing teeth can disqualify, that is the first time we learned about it. By reading all of your replies, I think we will end up ok by leaving his baby tooth in.
 
Reading DQ and freaking out... DS has 1 baby tooth that doesn't have an adult tooth under it. We've been told he will need to eventually remove it.
1 of the DQ conditions is "missing teeth"... if he extracts it, he will have a missing tooth, and we don't have the time to get an implant in place before the INDOC.

What can we do?

Can't believe I am chiming in here.

I never had a #13 premolar come in. Nor did I ever have wisdom teeth. Your son and I are simply more highly evolved organisms than most people. We don't need all those teeth, like we don't need tails.

Seriously now. Sometime in college I noticed there was a tooth that felt different than its opposite number. At some point it began discoloring. Finally, in my early 20's it broke in half and eventually the other half fell out.

I went the dentist twice a year my entire life. It wasn't until I was 23-4 that the missing tooth was even mentioned. Of course, I grew up in a time when braces were rare and things like veneers, tooth whitening implants were rare to non-existent.

In my late twenties when we moved to a new city and got a new dentist, he recommended an implant because my teeth were showing signs of malocclusion. I declined. (I also am the son of a surgeon, who said that cutting a person is very dangerous and should only be done as a last resort and the worse thing you can do for a sick person is put them in a hospital.) I have since changed dentists. Now, 30 years later, comparing x-rays, the empty space between #12 and #13 has widened by about 1 millimeter.

I would definitely see if kinnem's advice would pass muster with DoDMERB.
 
Curious...

My teeth are a little crooked, and my wisdom teeth on one side haven't fully come yet. They don't hurt or anything. I'm 19 y/o....

Is this a cause for concern?
 
Ok, reading cb7893
"I noticed there was a tooth that felt different than its opposite number. At some point it began discoloring. Finally, in my early 20's it broke in half and eventually the other half fell out."
What will KP do once something like that occur on campus?

Again, thanks everyone for the responses, the tooth will stay in for the INDOC.
 
Ok, reading cb7893
"I noticed there was a tooth that felt different than its opposite number. At some point it began discoloring. Finally, in my early 20's it broke in half and eventually the other half fell out."
What will KP do once something like that occur on campus?

Again, thanks everyone for the responses, the tooth will stay in for the INDOC.


In the olden days, there was an infirmary and a dentist onboard. I had a capped tooth abscess early Plebe year. The root canal was done right there. Now, I am not sure if that is still done.
 
Ok, reading cb7893
"I noticed there was a tooth that felt different than its opposite number. At some point it began discoloring. Finally, in my early 20's it broke in half and eventually the other half fell out."
What will KP do once something like that occur on campus?

Again, thanks everyone for the responses, the tooth will stay in for the INDOC.

There was zero pain and zero blood when the tooth broke. The remaining half sat there for several more months. The tooth was completed dead and since it was a baby tooth, there was no root.

The comparison of my case and your son's case is a perfect example of why US medical care costs are through the roof, with us spending about twice as much per capita as industrialized Europe.
 
JMoney457,
Your question is sort of a tangent of the thread, BUT wisdom teeth extraction before INDOC is almost required.
The only way around the "almost" is to have them removed sometime before your sea term on Fall, Christmas or Spring break.
Very few exceptions to this rule. The Academy does not want a young Midshipman to have any dental flare up while at sea.
See your dentist soon and schedule that extraction.

17TexasMom
 
JMoney457,
Your question is sort of a tangent of the thread, BUT wisdom teeth extraction before INDOC is almost required.
The only way around the "almost" is to have them removed sometime before your sea term on Fall, Christmas or Spring break.
Very few exceptions to this rule. The Academy does not want a young Midshipman to have any dental flare up while at sea.
See your dentist soon and schedule that extraction.

Where is this requirement published? I have not heard of this before. Anyone else?
 
@ Swabthedecks
Where is this requirement published? I have not heard of this before. Anyone else?

". Record of Dental Examination for Third Molar Status and Assumption of Financial Responsibility for Third Molar Extraction/Oral Surgery/Associated Costs:
This form should be completed by a parent or legal guardian of a Plebe Candidate, with the assistance of a licensed dental provider, and returned to the Academy’s Dental Service. The recommendation by the Academy’s Dental Service is that third molars (wisdom teeth) be removed at least 6 weeks prior to Indoctrination if indicated. The form certifies that either the wisdom teeth have been removed/do not exist and the parent/legal guardian acknowledges financial responsibility for removal if these teeth are still present and become symptomatic or are deemed to be a potential threat for infection by the Academy’s Senior Dental Officer."

The source is Logging in class of 2018 document, posted on USMMA website. Basically all midshipmen must have their wisdom teeth removed prior to sea year - its mandatory...
It also will be explained in "Logging in" doc for 2019, DS was told by his Admission contact to expect it first week of May.
Since INDOC is early this year - June 30, we wanted to have head start on all administrative/health clearance issues that needs to be cleared for INDOC day.

@ Jmoney457
Sorry I missed your question prior, glad to see 17TXMom already cleared things for you.
 
I often wonder how many incidents of impacted wisdom teeth occurred before this was made mandatory. To be honest, in 10 years at sea, I don't recall ever having anyone onboard any vessel I sailed on having an issue with it. It certainly wasn't a requirement during my sea year (in the late 70s). Meh, it is what it is, but I am one who doesn't feel someone should be cut on needlessly. I would think that having a burst appendix is more common. . . . . good luck to all. . .
 
I'm probably going to get mine removed...but this is the Dental Evaluation form:

http://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.ed...Dental Examination For Third Molar Status.pdf

It clearly says that if the 3rd molars still exist, a waiver of financial responsibility from the parents is required, as well as a letter from the dentist explaining that the specifications of the plebe's jaw are good (there is enough space) and the teeth are asymptomatic/not causing infections.

There is no explicit requirement here to get them removed. And there's just no way that the academy can "Require" everyone to have their wisdom teeth removed. The removal of wisdom teeth is major dental surgery, and if said surgery is contraindicated or suggested unnecessary by dental professionals, and the teeth themselves are asymptomatic/free of disease or infection, there is no way that the academy can force anyone to have their wisdom teeth removed. And of course, the academy knows this, which is why they have the waiver form....If it was in fact true that everyone was 'required' to have their wisdom teeth removed, then they would've just said do not report with wisdom teeth in place. Just to make the distinction, a suggestion is not a requirement.

Not trying to be a dick, and as I said I'm going to get mine removed, but everyone here should understand the inherent risks of major surgery and the use of anesthetics, and that 60% of wisdom teeth removals are completely unnecessary. The bottom line is that wisdom teeth removals are a boon for the dental industry, so the dental industry usually advocates having them removed....

You and your dentist should make this decision (not a federal bureaucrat), and possibly an independent dentist who doesn't have a vested financial interest in whether or not you go ahead with the procedure.
 
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