DS received a referral asking him to have a consultation to determine if extraction is needed. His visit to the family dentist a month ago while he was home indicated that all wisdom teeth are fine. Is wisdom teeth removal a requirement at the CGA or for commissioning? Can this be done with our family dentist/surgeon or it has to be the one they referred him to? Thanks.
Wisdom teeth removal
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Northwoods
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My understanding is that if the wisdom teeth don't come in fully on their own that by the 2/c year they want them removed.
That said I'm not sure what the official rules are.
That said I'm not sure what the official rules are.
Our DS just had consult and was told 3 teeth are ready to come out now and the 4th may never be ready. Based on this, we’re planning to schedule soonest (after spring sports since 10 days w/o physical activity is recommended after procedure). This leaves a tight window with exams, graduation etc
I just got mine removed a week ago, still recovering. I got them removed because when I went on a CVW to Navy one of the plebs recommended that I get it removed before I go because it would be better to recover at home than be SIQ at the academy.
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Wisdom teeth removal used to be standard for every MIDN at USNA. By the time you graduated, no one had their wisdom teeth anymore.
My class (‘94) was chosen for a pilot program where no one had theirs extracted until they needed it. I had 1 pulled over my 4 years as a MIDN, then 3 at once later when I was at MCAS Iwakuni as a 1stLt.
Not sure what they learned from that trial.
My class (‘94) was chosen for a pilot program where no one had theirs extracted until they needed it. I had 1 pulled over my 4 years as a MIDN, then 3 at once later when I was at MCAS Iwakuni as a 1stLt.
Not sure what they learned from that trial.
Northwoods
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I remember when mine were removed many, many moons ago (probably 30 years now). It definitely was unpleasant. Wrecked a pillow with the bleeding. I'd believe every bit of 10 days restricted duty for cadets.
DS will likely get his out this summer (he's a hs junior) if it's necessary. Probably after AIM, if he gets into that.
VAcadetmom
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Just remember if wisdom teeth removal is after acceptance, to make sure you update your medical record with the Academy. My cadet had his taken out in April of his HS senior year. One thing his oral surgeon offered that wasn't covered by insurance was PRP (they inject your own platelets at the surgical site). My son's healing was much quicker and less painful than my other child, though it might not work for everyone.
How do you update medical record? You mean update if surgery was after DodMD?
Haveaniceday
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Don't worry about wisdom teeth, and no need to take them out before the academy. In fact, they are best removed when the dentist makes that diagnosis and not before. It is a medical decision. The dental care at USCGA is pretty good and they will advice each cadet on what they see in the annual dental x-rays.
Yes, if your wisdom teeth haven't emerged by 2/c junior year, they will send you off base to the oral surgeon and have them removed. Many cadets go through this procedure. If they have emerged, the USCGA dentist will remove them.
Tip: Tricare (Mil Insurance) pays for the dental work. However, if you want additional long lasting sedation from the oral surgeon, just let your kid know and for a slight upcharge they may get an Exparel shot which makes the 72 hours after surgery much better. Good to schedule the removal on a Thursday if possible, then you can visit that weekend if you want because the cadet will be SIQ (Sick in Quarters) for a few days an as a 2/c can go off base and usually hang with you in a hotel. By 2/c year, Chase hall gets a little old, especially when you are SIQ.
Bottom line, it is usually not a pre-admission issue, and just discuss your wisdom teeth situation with the dentist during one of your twice a year visits.
If you have questions, the USCGA dental clinic is the controlling authority on this, you can give them a call.
Yes, if your wisdom teeth haven't emerged by 2/c junior year, they will send you off base to the oral surgeon and have them removed. Many cadets go through this procedure. If they have emerged, the USCGA dentist will remove them.
Tip: Tricare (Mil Insurance) pays for the dental work. However, if you want additional long lasting sedation from the oral surgeon, just let your kid know and for a slight upcharge they may get an Exparel shot which makes the 72 hours after surgery much better. Good to schedule the removal on a Thursday if possible, then you can visit that weekend if you want because the cadet will be SIQ (Sick in Quarters) for a few days an as a 2/c can go off base and usually hang with you in a hotel. By 2/c year, Chase hall gets a little old, especially when you are SIQ.
Bottom line, it is usually not a pre-admission issue, and just discuss your wisdom teeth situation with the dentist during one of your twice a year visits.
If you have questions, the USCGA dental clinic is the controlling authority on this, you can give them a call.
Haveaniceday
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Sorry I got off topic a little. To answer directly: Get the consolation they asked for and the dentist will give his opinion which in your case sounds like they are "fine." Yes, wisdom teeth removal is required for commissioning usually during 2/c (junior) year at the latest. Not sure if you can use the family dentist or not, but it will be covered by Tri-Care (mil insurance) and if the wisdom teeth have emerged the USCGA dental clinic dentist will pull them. If they have not emerged, the base dentist will refer the cadet to an off base oral surgeon so he can remove them. They do around 200+ extractions a year and have it down pretty well.
Your cadet will be informed that any off base medical/dental procedure must be approved in advance by USCGA and reported to the academy clinic and the medical records added to their electronics medical file. Some kids while home on leave etc. do go to the emergency room etc. just as everyone does and this has to be reported back. They will receive training on how to handle medical/dental issues. Once you are at the academy, you must do things their way so as not to put your required commissioning physical senior year in jeopardy. It seems overwhelming now, but it really does work out fine once you get used to it and of course with anything concerning your cadets health, they can always ask questions.
But if you get them out on a Monday you are ready to have fun on the weekend and don’t wreck a weekend…
I got mine out on a Monday a week or so before finals and it was the greatest thing ever. All the learning was over and it was just projects. So I skipped class for a week and did my projects and studied for finals. Everyone else was getting crushed and I was living my best life. Only semester I ever got a 4.0.
Also, being SIQ is kinda the best life in chase hall. But a classmate who got them out on a Monday routed special Libo and then just stayed with their parents that week, so that’s pretty cool too.
Northwoods
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So, the academy will pull wisdom teeth even if they come in normally and are healthy?
VAcadetmom
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Yes, and no. Wisdom teeth do not affect your DodMERB evaluation, but any change to your medical status must be reported to the academy. A surgery would count for that. He had his surgery after he submitted the initial paperwork to the Academy, so he had to provide that updated information to the Academy. It was clearly spelled out in the paperwork what to do about wisdom teeth. If wisdom teeth come out before then, that information just goes in the initial paperwork.
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It sounds like you're getting anecdotal information here. I don't know for sure if Coast Guard has a specific
regulation that REQUIRES them to be removed but the Navy did not. That said I saw many/most of my classmates
get them removed at USNA but mine were never considered to be impacted and none of the many dentists that I
saw from pre USNA into my forties judged them to be in need of removal. This included many Navy Dentists
including one who was also a close friend.
Finally, In my forties, my then dentist recommended taking two of them out which he did and it was really no big deal
and I didn't miss work or any family/volunteer stuff. The other two reared up and got removed about 5 yrs later
(different state/dentist) and again, did not cause much disruption.
acecreator71
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According to my cadet... yes. Everybody she knows who still had them, had their wisdom teeth pulled during 3/C year. Whether there was a problem or not. No idea was "policy" is, just going by what the cadets have said.
acecreator71
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!!?!?! Glad you hear your cadet has had a good experience. I shutter at the stories I've heard (2022-2023). I can't disagree with you more about not having them removed before getting to the academy. I would do anything and everything I could do make sure my cadet had them out before getting to the academy. I'd take 'em out myself before I'd let the CGA do it. LOL!