Join the military, get all your teeth pulled out?

[babylonsister]

I just listened to Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) on CSPAN2, talking about recruits in her state. She mentioned that in order for new troops to attain their 'medical readiness' prior to going into battle, these people, rather than get good dental care, are getting their teeth pulled so their mouth will be ready medically. I guess dentures are cheaper and easier than actually fixing any problems.

I don't know why I'm surprised, but this makes me ill.

But don't forget, support the troops.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Straight out of...

The Dr. Joseph Cotton playbook.

http://www.amazon.com/Madhouse-Tragic-Megalomania-Modern-Medicine/dp/0300107293/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-3839552-0364161?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176993309&sr=1-1

[babylonsister]

5. He's one scary dude, and he did that to his kids, too?

:scared:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. Gave his son...

who was showing relatively normal adolescent rambunctious behavior, a very radical colostomy. To treat his "focal sepsis".

Read the book. It is fantastic.

[itsrobert]

2. I have no idea

Were these their wisdom teeth? The military doesn't like wisdom teeth, they pull them out at the first opportunity. The excuse given is wisdom teeth lead to problems later on.

[gatorboy]

3. I had a root canal which cost $700+ each.

And that's not becasue of petty lawsuits. Medical costs are so high because if you have any sort of insurance, dentists (and doctors) will squeeze them for all they can.

[babylonsister]

4. The price shouldn't be an issue imo; they want these people to

lay their lives on the line, doncha think they could fix their teeth instead of just pulling them out?

[gatorboy]

7. But price is an issue, obviously.

Especially of you have enough teeth too far gone to even suggest replacing them with dentures. Believe me, it can get expensive and the gov't obviously wants to pay the least amount.
You also have to aware of the fact that Arkansas drinking water isn't treated with fluoride. My dentist said before he had moved he, he had never seen so much bad teeth. He suggested that the reason was lack of fluoride.

[demnan]

8. If I had kids and lived in Arkansas

I'd give them 3 cups of tea a day. Tea has Floride in it.

[babylonsister]

9. But I wonder how many other states this is happening in? Is

lack of flouride really the issue?

[Rue]

10. I suppose we need to protect their vital fluids. (n/t)

[zbdent]

11. Well, the only evidence of Bush doing anything on his "obligation" to the guard

was that he got a dental checkup on the taxpayers' dime ...