Do the Amish have their own dentists? Well, not in the sense of the certified, licensed professionals that you think of when you think “dentist”.
But they do have people who provide basic dental services in some communities. This basically boils down to pulling teeth – both the ones you can see, and wisdom teeth – and some who make dentures to replace those pulled teeth.
Since Amish generally only go through eight grades of formal education, there is no pathway for Amish to become dentists, which requires higher institutional learning.
However, there is a definite need in many Amish communities for tooth-pulling services (some might say the greater need in some communities is for better dental hygiene, but I’ll leave that topic alone for now). Even quite young people end up having their teeth pulled and replaced with dentures.
Now I don’t want to give the impression that all Amish are getting their teeth pulled, or not brushing regularly and so on. Some, if not many Amish people of course do maintain good dental hygiene and go to “regular” dentists for modern dental care. Some even get primarily cosmetic treatments, like braces.
However, in certain communities, removing teeth (and avoiding expensive modern dental care) and then replacing them with dentures is seen as a more affordable and practical approach to things, when it comes to the pearly (or not-so-pearly) whites.
Examples of Amish dental work
Another question: Do Amish dentists only pull, for lack of a better word, rotten teeth? Well, maybe not always.
This aspect of life in some Amish communities got a lot of attention following an episode of the program “Breaking Amish” some years ago. In one episode, Rebecca, a young woman in her early 20s, shocked viewers by removing a full set of dentures from her mouth. Her teeth had all been pulled at age 19.
This was described as “Amish tradition”.
In the video below I share several accounts describing the work of Amish dentists. Rich Stevick describes his encounters (strictly as an observer) with Amish dentists. Other readers also share their experiences, including one who once drove taxi for Swartzentruber Amish in Ohio. My impression is that their services are generally quickly and effectively performed, and they are valued in their communities.
I include one of my own accounts, which I heard firsthand on a visit to Pennsylvania. The son of a friend visited a local dentist in the community. This was not something he does regularly; in fact, it was the first time. And on telling the story you could tell he thought it was a wild experience. He passed on getting a wisdom tooth taken out – but did get a non-wisdom tooth removed, parting with about $20 for the service.
Other things to know about Amish dentistry:
- Amish dentists may or may not provide painkiller (and when they do, it may or may not come in a dose suitable to actually kill the pain)
- This is gray area stuff. Some Amish have faced legal trouble and fines and jail time over their dentistry practice
- Due to it being gray area, you’re not going to see Amish dentists hanging advertisement signs at the end of their lanes
- They are apt to only serve people from within the Amish community (though not necessarily always the case), and generally take “donations” or “contributions” in lieu of an official fee
Check out the video here for more on Amish dentists. Runtime: 6:16.
You might also like:
Amish dentists
You’re joking?! $20.00 to remove a non-wisdom tooth? A so-called “oral surgeon”
charged me over $200.00 to pull just 1 non-wisdom tooth not 18 months ago. And
he wasn’t kind when it came to using enough pain medication either. Sheesh!!
Amish dental
I live in Amish community, I also drive for them. They have a local gentleman that does their dental. They also have a local gentleman that makes dentures. Some also go to local dentists. Some go out of state to have dentures done. They are of all ages that use the service
Ouch!
Thank you for this blog essay & video. All I can think about right now is that I really need to go brush my teeth.
If having your teeth pulled is so common for the Amish, including with their youth, then I imagine it would also be considered less of a factor in judging whether a person with less teeth is less desirable.
On another point, in our Amish community, I’m surprised when any Amish business does NOT advertise its craft/profession. As you said about dentists, the Amish know who lives there so they don’t need a sign. Maybe our Amish without signs don’t need anymore business or maybe they’re avoiding becoming a tourist attraction that keeps them from working.
I think you’re right on the first point about it not being a social disqualifier. In the English world, a 20-something person with dentures would generally be looked upon as an oddity (to describe it crudely). Among Amish, not really (or at least in certain Amish circles).
The businesses without signs question is an interesting one. I’ve tended to see these being either a) businesses that primarily cater to the Amish (mutza suit maker, for instance) where everyone knows where it’s located, and b) stores that don’t really want to attract non-Amish business (like an unmarked variety store I visited once in VA). And maybe there are other examples as well. Curious, what kind of businesses have you been seeing without signs in your neck of the woods? (I realize that question is something of a contradiction)
Follow up to questions about Amish businesses in my area
Hello Erik,
I don’t know what I don’t know.
I can only think of a couple of businesses that don’t advertise around Yoder, Kansas. One is a family carpentry business. They do specialized work for English home builders, so they may not need other English jobs. Next time I visit with the family, I’ll ask.
There are certainly Amish businesses here that wouldn’t make ends meet without English customers. A traditional harness maker I know told me that in Yoder his sales to Amish are only 10%! His largest English customer purchases leather dog collars.
Meanwhile, an Amish buggy maker in Indiana has so much demand, his clientele are all Amish. When he had a buggy shop in Yoder, half his business was English.
Amish businesses on the Kansas frontier would risk economic survival if they were too selective about customers. Geography/community is the decider.
If you were in a heavily populated Amish community anywhere and you had a business that catered to Amish only, I wonder, How much would that effect your view of the English-Amish world? In Kansas, I think, it means more English-Amish interaction.
The Michigan State University Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders have several Amish families they provider services for. One of the services recently implemented was a Mobil Dental Unit that is staffed by a dental hygienist and social worker. When the Amish come to their clinic appointment, they also can get their teeth cleaned. If there are greater concerns, we will help them locate a dentist to care for those needs.
It has been greatly appreciated by the Amish community.
Thanks for sharing Karen, I was not aware of that. Sounds great.
USING WISDOM WITH YOUR MONEY
I CAN ONLY CRINGE WHEN I SEE WHAT GOES ON IN AMISH COMMUNITIES! YES, I DO DRIVE THEM AND SOMETIMES JUST SHAKE MY HEAD. I HAVE SEEN SOME AMISH IN THE DENTAL OFFICE BEFORE AND KNOW OF ONE GIRL THAT HAD BRACES. WHEN THEY GET UP TO $14,000.00 FOR AN ACRE OF TOBACCO AND DO NOT PAY SS TAXES YOU HAVE TO WONDER JUST HOW POOR THEY ARE. THEY WILL SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A WEEK JUST VISITING RELATIVES. BELIEVE ME, I KNOW AS I DRIVE THEM.
Using wisdom With Your Money ~ Reply
Amish don’t pay into the SS system and they don’t draw from it later. It’s sort of a moot point to bring that up, isn’t it? Their wealth is 1st, none of anyone’s business and the fact that they give tremendous amounts of their income back to their community, means that they really cannot live any sort of extravagant lifestyle, nor would that be looked on as a positive thing from their community. I know a few “rich” Amish, but I will say that they live modestly to spite the very obvious large and prosperous businesses that they run and they work themselves half to death for what little they allow themselves in the luxury department. I have also seen “small delegations” of men come from their communities, elders I can only guess, who watch them work and I assume are snooping their businesses for the sake of the community. I don’t drive Amish, but I do live amongst them and I have seen their teeth go missing, so I assumed they went to the dentist and got them pulled, it’s interesting that they have their own go to people for that service. Back in the day, barbers pulled teeth. They have their own midwives, and I don’t see the authorities going after them for practicing without a license? Great article and video, thanks!
HMMM
GEE, WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF WE COULD KEEP OUR MONEY AND NOT PAY SS TAXES? WE COULD THEN INVEST OUR MONEY WHERE WE WANTED TO LIKE THE AMISH WHO PURCHASE PROPERTY AS THEY KNOW VERY WELL THAT IS THE BEST PLACE TO INVEST.
You sound a bit hateful and angry about the Amish
If you don’t like them or their lifestyle, don’t drive them and stay away from them. I don’t understand why you seem to show and feel contempt about them not paying SS. I’m also happy to see that they are buying land that comes up for sale around me as farmers age out and put their farms up for sale. I don’t want any developments cropping up where I am. They buy the farms and split them into two or three households with smaller acreage, keeping my area rural and my neighbors pleasant and friendly. Each idividual is not rich, their community is, and that’s a good thing for them and sometimes for us.
chill out
LADY, I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS BUT YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN! I DO ADMIRE THE AMISH BUT YOU TAKE SO MUCH STUFF OUT OF CONTEXT. WHY DON’T YOU MAKE A PIE OR SOMETHING AND STOP SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THE COMPUTER GETTING YOUR PANTIES UP IN A BUNCH? OK KAREN!