Hello,
I was hoping for others experience/opinion on the following:
DD was granted a medical waiver needed for ROTC scholarship as of December, 2020, so completed the DoDMERB process and is ready to go. In February, 2021, she went for a routine dental appointment (had not been there for a year due to the pandemic - last most recent appointment took place January, 2020). She was not having any symptoms, just routine. When they did x-rays this February, they noted her back molars had some partial root resorption (technically "2nd molars" positions 2 & 15 - her third molars/wisdom teeth were removed Dec, 2019). Three different dental professionals are in agreement that the cause is that the wisdom teeth were sitting on the roots of those two molars, which sometimes causes partial root resorption. Her teeth in general are in excellent condition (she has never even had a filling) and she has no discomfort or loosening. She's had a couple of oral surgeon and periodontist opinions and although all agree eventually this may become a problem, right now, it is not an urgent matter.
I'm generally of the belief of "wait and see" when it comes to these kinds of things unless life threatening or quality-of-life threatening - perfect example is I was told I had shallow roots due to orthodontic work in the early 80s, and that I would lose my teeth in my twenties. I am now in my 50's, and still have all of my teeth! However, in that she will be entering ROTC in the fall for the first time, we are trying to decide the best course of action and what the implications may be for the various options.
As we see it, she has three options, and trying to decide which is best, given she will start ROTC in the fall and with a scholarship:
Thanks
I was hoping for others experience/opinion on the following:
DD was granted a medical waiver needed for ROTC scholarship as of December, 2020, so completed the DoDMERB process and is ready to go. In February, 2021, she went for a routine dental appointment (had not been there for a year due to the pandemic - last most recent appointment took place January, 2020). She was not having any symptoms, just routine. When they did x-rays this February, they noted her back molars had some partial root resorption (technically "2nd molars" positions 2 & 15 - her third molars/wisdom teeth were removed Dec, 2019). Three different dental professionals are in agreement that the cause is that the wisdom teeth were sitting on the roots of those two molars, which sometimes causes partial root resorption. Her teeth in general are in excellent condition (she has never even had a filling) and she has no discomfort or loosening. She's had a couple of oral surgeon and periodontist opinions and although all agree eventually this may become a problem, right now, it is not an urgent matter.
I'm generally of the belief of "wait and see" when it comes to these kinds of things unless life threatening or quality-of-life threatening - perfect example is I was told I had shallow roots due to orthodontic work in the early 80s, and that I would lose my teeth in my twenties. I am now in my 50's, and still have all of my teeth! However, in that she will be entering ROTC in the fall for the first time, we are trying to decide the best course of action and what the implications may be for the various options.
As we see it, she has three options, and trying to decide which is best, given she will start ROTC in the fall and with a scholarship:
- Do nothing and "wait and see" - if something happens later however, what are those implications once already in ROTC? Or once in the military?
- Have the teeth removed now (mid April), and in July, she would be eligible for a dental implant (abutment placement) at that point (90 days later). We did read something under the disqualification section that you have to be cleared from dental surgery for 6 months, which is where her concern lies with having it done right now.... Since it is the furthest back in the line of molars, it was also suggested that she could forego implants if she chose, but he wants to give her both options should she decide to have the teeth removed in April. At that time, he would pack in the bone during the tooth distraction which is the best time to do this, then she has either the option to have the abutment placed 90 days later or forego getting the implants.
- Have the teeth removed at a later time - IS there a better time once she enrolls in ROTC?? Or, is now better, even when there is not a symptomatic issue at this time?
Thanks
