Dental ethics case 16: Pull out my four front teeth ...

Abstract

The scenario is a 14 year old girl who requests the extraction of her four front teeth, even though she has no problems with her teeth. She said it is because all her friends and some of her family members have had their front teeth extracted and she would like to do the same. Despite counselling against the removal of her teeth, she is adamant that she wants the teeth removed. A commentary is given on this scenario.