Wisdom Teeth?

[Guest Shermanator]

I was told that one must have their wisdom teeth removed before Brooks; Is this true?

Shermanator

[Guest EZ206PILOT]

From what I understand, if they are not comming in normally they must be taken care of. I had to get mine removed for my FC1 to be approved. Good times...

[Guest navobd]

My wisdom teeth weren't coming in properly (impacted) and had to be removed before they would qualify my class I. If yours are developing properly, I don't see why they would need removal to get qualified for a FC1.

[Guest Lightninbo]

They yanked mine as well for qualification of fc1a... and boy it sucked!

[Guest C-21 Pilot]

There's a guy in my unit who just had his pulled 2 weeks ago....

[BFM this]

Mine have been impacting since high school. I was first encouraged to have them removed at boot camp. This encouragement continued up until one flight physical as a reservist when I caught the dentist (06) on a particularly bad day: threatened charges.

Needless to say, my FC1 went through without a hitch. Heck, I even figured I'd get them pulled during my 3 months of casual. The tech at the front counter gently disuaded me from doing that here, though. Don't know why, just took her word for it: I'll get it done after wings.

[DC]

I only have my two bottom ones. The top ones never existed. Apparently that is fairly common. Anyway, they came in fine, except they are totally useless without anything above them to bite against. They are also difficult to keep totally clean way in the back of my mouth. I have been told for about 6 years now that I need to get them removed sooner rather than later for hygiene reasons. I had been very busy though college and never got around to doing it. Now my dental insurance really isn't good enough to consider doing it.

I had my FC1 a couple months ago (my OTS board meets today) and they told me the same story I've heard over and over. Get them removed as soon as possible. He suggested as soon as I go AD (after OTS) to get them yanked. Now, from what I can understand, you were probably disuaded from going it at wherever you are because.. well.. I guess the dentists in the Air Force don't exactly have the best reputations for doing stuff like that effortlessly.

Anyway, the point of my ramblings.. If your wisdom teeth are causing absolutely no problems because they grew in all the way and completely straight with plenty of room, don't worry about them right now unless you can afford to get them taken out. Wisdom teeth are useless, but if they are fine they won't stop you from being a pilot in the Air Force - at least before Brooks.

[Guest skipplet]

Originally posted by Dennis:

I only have my two bottom ones. The top ones never existed. Apparently that is fairly common.

I don't have top ones either. Oh well

[Scooter14]

Still got all mine through an initial FC1A and a FC1. You never know, I guess

[ 11. May 2004, 21:57: Message edited by: PAB ]

[HercDude]

If you haven't gotten the picture yet . . . .

The AF takes them out whenever they damn well please. If they ever seem like they will be a problem in the future the "doctor" will yank them out. I suppose that's to ensure you don't get some funky mouth infection or whatever when you are deployed.

And oh by the way there is a special board on baseops.net just for medical questions like this. Curiously enough, it is entitled "Avation Medecine"

[Guest AirGuardian]

Here's another view not shown on the Medicine Ball board I'm sure regarding the "Wisdom Teeth" issue. Don't let them pull them if they are not causing or going to cause you any trouble... Get a second opinion since it will cause you less grief if its not needed. Why you ask. It's kind of like flt hours for the Dental guys. The more Wisdom teeth you pull, the better it looks when you apply to the outside for another job... Have plenty of Guard dentists who understand this "pulling" issue on the civilian side. Once again pullem if necessary, but they only got one of mine so far and that was 10 years ago - it's the only place where the food sticks! This is not entirely true for all dentists, but there is a criteria from which they are judged as well. Plenty of good ones out there, but beware of being just a means to an end... Just an FYI!!!

[ 01. June 2004, 18:00: Message edited by: AirGuardian ]

[Guest cmlbaseball]

I got back from Brooks back in the 1st week of December, and came across a bit of a snafu. When getting the dental exam, the dentist there told me, oh you haven't had your wisdom teeth out yet, you will have to have them removed before you go on active duty, until then your medical flight status will be "Not Qualified" (Also said don't worry doesn't mean "disqualified", just means you have to get your teeth out before we will commission you.) Me being so concerned about getting them out, got my surgery schedule for the begining of January, and had them removed. I came back to my Det to talk about it with my Commander, after I had them removed, he didn't understand what Brooks was talking about and looked into it. Come to find out, Brooks has been telling people this for a little while now, and cadets are coming back to the AF asking for reimbursement because Brooks was spreading this info around. So come to find out 4 days after my teeth were removed (which sucked by the way), I read an email to my Col from somewhere out in the big Blue and it said that used to be the policy down at Brooks , you have wisdom teeth = get removed before will commission. Policy now = ONLY have to get them out if they are bothering you....its a d*mn shame mine weren't bothering me and my parents shelled out $800 bucks to get them removed. Just curious if anyone else was in the same boat or knows anything about this??? I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I did.....

[Guest Dirt Beater]

If they don't bother you, screw it. The dentist at Brooks asked me if they bothered me and if they didn't, don't bother having them taken out.

[Guest F16PilotMD]

Almost 20 yrs of service, several thousand hours of fighter time, multiple trips to the sandbox...and my wisdom teeth are still in place. Don't listen to folklore...the regs spell it out.

[Guest V1vaLaRob]

Originally posted by F16PilotMD:

Almost 20 yrs of service, several thousand hours of fighter time, multiple trips to the sandbox...and my wisdom teeth are still in place. Don't listen to folklore...the regs spell it out.

Im so happy to read this thread. Last year one of my wisdom teeth hurt and I was going to get it pulled, but it was hurting because it was coming out of the gum, so after a few days it went away and I cancelled my appt. But all the AF guys where telling me how the AF makes you take them out anyway, and I started freaking out since everyone told me about the pain that comes with the procedure. But after reading this, Im pretty happy.

Although this is a year old, and has anyone heard anything different? Anyone been forced to have your wisdom teeth out?

-Robert

[Guest siccmade5150]

i just had my wisdom teeth pulled out last september, i was scared sh*tless about it. but it was so fun i probably would do it again if i could, haha not really. i dont remember any pain when i had them pulled, i just woke up dizzy and actually walked out by myself without anybody helping me. oh and you do get to eat a lot of pudding and jello for the first few weeks which was fun. the only shotty thing about it is when your face gets swelled up like a fish

[ 10. March 2006, 15:34: Message edited by: siccmade5150 ]

[Guest KoolKat]

It became quite obvious when mine needed to be removed...

Down side, I woke up in the middle of it to feel the dude pounding on my face with some kind of chisel/hammer thingy...needless to say I was a little pissed.

It's not that it hurt, I was actually just kind of mad at the guy for swackin' me with a hammer like that...

Recovery was alright though, I think I had codine pills (and some others that started with a V,) I was back at work the next day. Not as a pilot, at that time though...

Bottoline: If you have to get them out, it's not that bad, again, as stated, you do look like a chipmunk for a week!

BENDY

[Guest cobaltmetallic]

I am scheduled for my FC1 this Thursday. My dentist recommends that I should have my wisdom teeth removed eventually. All are OK except for one which is impacted slightly. They do not bother me whatsoever.

If I pass my FC1 and have my teeth pulled by a civilian dentist, will I have to be reevaluated for the dental portion of my FC1?

I would prefer to have my teeth pulled locally, but I don't want to have a delay getting my class date.

[Guest Hydro130]

I too am a wisdom teeth survivor thus far. And that 10+ years of AD flying.

Yes, as any dentist will attest, they WILL eventually rot out due to the fact that you just can't clean 'em.

Until that time, I'm keeping them -- some one once gave me the good advice to never have ELECTIVE surgery. Now, it'll be on my own dime though I guess!

Cheers, Hydro

[Guest P27:17]

I'll bet that if you go to your local flight surgeon's office and ask them to pull up your IFC 1 exam in PEPP, then have them look on the "Notes" page, where you will find "uploaded documents", there is a letter with your "John Doe" on it. The letter will state that you understand that you are not to get any evaluations/procedures done until you are requested to do so from HQ AETC/SGPA. If I recall, folks are briefed first thing on Monday morning what this letter means and in fact dental procedures are the example used. "No matter what you hear, or think you thought you heard while going through this process, DO NOT go and get something done until you hear from AETC"...if you do, the AF will not pick up the tab. Maybe I just thought I heard this?

[Guest dpiddycanfly]

is it possible to get DQ'd on your FC1 if you still have your wisdom teeth?

[Guest apilot3]

I still have a baby tooth between two molars... There is no tooth behind it. I kept it in there because my dentist said to keep it in till it comes out on it's own. Just be easy on it, because there is hardly any root left. That is not something that I would have to get an implant for right away would it?

[Guest P27:17]

dpiddy, it is possible, even likely, if the dentist anticipates there will be problems in the near future with them.

apilot, I don't know about when/if you should get implants...I'm away from my desk until Monday...is your dentist telling you you will need an implant? It seems that you would have more problems getting cleared with that dying "baby" tooth than you would if you pulled it...

[Guest dpiddycanfly]

well my wisdom teeth do not hurt, never have, and they are still under the gum. If I do get DQ'd, will they give me time to have the surgery and then come back, or will that just be it?

[Guest P27:17]

I don't know where you are in your process...if you haven't had your IFC 1...you'll have plenty of time. A lot of folks get it done on their own just so they don't have to worry about it. Most of the push to get them taken out before UPT is to avoid any down time while going through UPT.

I'm not suggesting it...just telling you some of the approaches.