How do you approach dentists about getting them to collect teeth for you?

[aggie-master]

Do you call or stop by their office in person?

What types of specialists get you the most teeth? What type get you the best variety?

I knew a dentist that was able to get me enough teeth to get through first year, but I think I'm going to need to collect a ton to have what I need for next year and I'm not sure about the best way to get them.

Edit: I meant to put this in Dental but I guess this place will do. Pre-dents should be collecting teeth too at this point.

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[Avery07]

This may sound dumb, but what do you need teeth for?

 

[bluejellybelly]

I've asked several dentists and many of them, although willing to collect teeth for me, have informed me that things like Hippa (I'm not sure if this is even a big deal in dentistry) and mostly control of infectious diseases have restricted them from doing so. It's technically "illegal" for them to help me collect teeth, or so they say. I don't know if this some local law in NYC but they've told me to just purchase plastic teeth.

I'm not going to kill myself if I can't collect enough..... I mean, I really can't force dentists to give me teeth if they don't want to.

 

[doc3232]

Ummm, what do you need the teeth for?
I have my 4 wisdom teeth but they turned brownish (the gum tissue on the sides)

 

[loved]

You need teeth for lab work during dental school. You can read up on it here (and donate! ):
http://www.dmdstudent.com/temple/?cat=8

I stopped by their offices b/c they were nearby. I went to ortho's (who turned me away b/c they said they didn't do any extractions at all), perio's (all but one told me the same thing as the ortho's.. the one who did accept my jar said that the extractions were rare and far in between), and oral surgeons (they warned me that most of the extractions were wisdom teeth).

I am going to keep trying all sorts of specialties b/c I don't want to be stuck with only 3rd molars.

 

[tinman831]

You'll need your teeth for labs and probably endo lab. There's no HIPAA regulations against dentists giving you extracted teeth. OSHA does have rules against patients getting their teeth back but will allow incoming dental students to collect them as long as they follow proper protocol for disinfecting. Just go in and say hey I'm going to dental school this fall. I was wondering if you could collect some teeth for me. And give them a jar with your name and phone number on it. Simple as that.

 

[bodiddely]

Does OSHA really prohibit giving patients their extracted teeth back? The dentists I have shadowed always offer to give patients their teeth following extraction.

 

[Jive]

Teeth for lab? For the price you pay to go to dental school im surprised it isnt included in tuition.

 

[toothfairy85]

I may be wrong, but I heard you also need extracted teeth for the endo part of WREB.

 

[aggie-master]

I guess I'll just try a bunch of places and see what happens.

Like other posters said, I know I'll need some for endo labs and I wouldn't be surprised if I needed them for labs in other classes. This year we've used extracted teeth for dental anatomy lab and for a sealant lab so far.

 

[Aiyah]

Do you need to collect your own teeth for all dental schools? I thought some schools provide them for you.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

If you need teeth, look in to this philanthropist that's donating organs.
http://filecabi.net/video/200_KIDNEYS.html

 

[Suren911]

Look for oral surgeons. They extract teeth quite a lot.

 

[PDizzle]

I stopped by their offices b/c they were nearby. I went to ... perio's (all but one told me the same thing as the ortho's.. the one who did accept my jar said that the extractions were rare and far in between), and oral surgeons (they warned me that most of the extractions were wisdom teeth).

Perio extracts all the time, not sure why that one perio said they didn't. I see blood and teeth all over the perio side of clinic. Especially if they do a lot of implants.

Actually, a really good spec to go to to get good teeth is pros. They yank the last few teeth a patient has before fitting a removable prosthetic.

The best way is to get like 5 or 6 jars all in different general dentist offices. Come back in 6 months and you're set for D-school.

As stated above, you NEED natural teeth for endo. We also need them for advanced restorative(color matching, etc) that you can't get in a plastic teeth.

 

[predentn]

With a box of donuts.

 

[loved]

I found glycerol the other day at CVS, as a laxative.
It just feels kind of odd adding a laxative to teeth, but whatever works!

 

[Amalgam4U]

I found glycerol the other day at CVS, as a laxative.
It just feels kind of odd adding a laxative to teeth, but whatever works!

I read your blog! hah. made me chuckle! And that's also a funny avatar. hah! So I need to collect teeth? rawr. I guess I'll go ask some people. How many teeth is sufficient?

 

[smile101]

Did anyone try a free clinic?

One in my city only do extractions and hygiene!