Peace-Corps medical clearance can be a long and expensive process for applicants. One of the issues many applicants worry about is the general standard that Peace-Corps volunteers have their wisdom teeth removed before service to avoid complications while they are serving. However, wisdom-tooth extraction for the Peace Corps is not a black-and-white issue. Below are some of the things you should consider if you still have your wisdom teeth in and are considering applying for the Peace Corps.
Find Out If Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted Is a Medical Necessity
Even though many people assume they have to have their wisdom teeth removed before Peace Corps service, this is not necessarily the truth. The medical office will require a full dental examination and, if you still have your wisdom teeth, they will require your dentist to assess the likelihood of their erupting or causing issues during your service. If you are over the age of 30 and still have your wisdom teeth, the likelihood that your wisdom teeth will need to be removed is small. You can simply have your dentist recommend against the removal of your wisdom teeth if they are asymptomatic.
Consider Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Removed If You Will Be Serving During Your Optimal Removal Time
Even if your wisdom teeth are asymptomatic and do not need to be removed, you may consider getting them removed if you will be serving during your mid-twenties. This is because the optimal removal age for wisdom teeth is in the late teens or early twenties. During this period, your teeth have fully developed, but the bone around them is less dense, which makes removal easier and allows you to heal faster after the procedure. This window of opportunity closes around age 25, so if you will be serving during that time period, consider getting your wisdom teeth removed before you go.
Schedule Your Removal As Early As Possible
Scheduling a wisdom-teeth extraction can take considerable planning. You have to find a dentist or oral surgeon with an open appointment, and many people have to take a course of antibiotics before the procedure. Women taking birth control may also have to wait for a certain time during their cycle.
The new Peace-Corps application process is streamlined and meant to last only a few months, as opposed to the year or more that it used to take. This means that you need to be able to get your medical clearance quickly and be ready to leave for your assignment. To make sure you will be cleared, consider arranging your wisdom-teeth extraction before you begin applying.
Ask for a Peace-Corps Discount
Many dentists are happy to support those who serve their country. Peace Corps is considered a respectable volunteer experience by many professionals, and some dentists or oral surgeons may offer you a slight discount if they know why you need to get your wisdom teeth removed. This can help make the medical and dental clearance more affordable. Even if you are not offered a discount, make sure to save all dental receipts, as some of your procedures may be eligible for reimbursement from the Peace Corps' medical office.
Bring All Peace-Corps Paperwork with You
If you are getting your wisdom teeth removed at the request of the Peace Corps medical office, it is important to bring the clearance paperwork with you to your dentist's office. Your dentist or oral surgeon will have to sign off on your paperwork after you have had the procedure completed, and you will want to return the paperwork to the medical office as soon as possible.
For more information about wisdom-teeth extraction, talk to a professional such as Dale D. Lentz DDS.
Share26 September 2016
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