Can I defer my orders for an emergency wisdom tooth surgery?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 10:39:19 -0400

My friend is on orders to report on September 10th overseas, he just recently had a dental appointment because he’s been having pain and they said it’s because of his wisdom tooth, but they have no dates for him to get it pulled until after his report date so he just said he will wait until he is overseas. A week later he is having so bad of pain and jaw is swollen so he goes to the hospital and they let him know that the tooth has an infection so they give him some pain meds and some antibiotics and send him home. He follows with his dental clinic and they let him know they still won’t be able to get him a date until after his report date and the doctor is willing to right a letter supporting him to defer his orders for 30 days, he wants to know is the doctor letter good enough to submit with the 4187 for deferment of orders or does he need to obtain more documents and include them? He doesn’t want to be focus on trying to clear and putting in a 4187 that will probably get kicked back since the surgery isn’t major but the tooth is preventing him from doing daily functions and he is not trying to travel all the way across the world with an tooth infection and in pain.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2022 2:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 14:14:08 -0400

You have your friend request to be referred to a dentist off post. There is no reason a person should have to wait a month to have an abscess tooth pulled. If the dental clinic gives any pushback, have them contact the patient advocate immediately.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Aug 14 at 2022 11:26 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 23:26:39 -0400

There is also a health/safeth issue, flying with a tooth as such. This should be taken up by the doc. I know it is a problem because I faced it once while deployed to Kosovo. Has a tooth problem, went to Bondsteel to get it checked. Was asked how soon I was flying back, wasn't for a while, so the doc drilled it out and fixed it. He told me if it was in a certain time period I couldn't fly. Can't rmember the time frame.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 15 at 2022 9:05 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:05:27 -0400

The friend could do all that hoops and hurdles mess with deferring orders or they could opt for a civilian place off post because it's causing issues and traveling with that is a non starter. I would go the off post route. It would be easier and faster.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Aug 15 at 2022 11:57 AM

SSG Bill McCoy — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 11:57:17 -0400

"Emergency wisdom tooth surgery?" EMERGENCY? If it were a true emergency, they'd have pulled/extracted it right away. Yes, they're super painful, but the surgery is minor. I had two pulled and immediately rreturned to work. The next week, the two remaining were pulled and it was a lot worse and required sutures when it was all done which is rare. Again, returned to work right after; NOT because of any macho BS; but it isn't typically an emergency - priority, yes. The real "danger" is post extraction infection, and what they call a "dry socket," and infection with or without dry socket.

Typically, wisdom teeth surgery was cause for light duty for up to a week, barring complications. The exception being no vehicle or equipment operation if pain meds are prescribed. Of course that means a GI can't drive to base if he lives off-base.