# Saving Your Tooth And Your Dog's Testicles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 6, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534 "2010-03-06T16:35:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/1 "2010-03-06T16:35:23Z")
I had to have a tooth extracted yesterday. Before the procedure, the assistant asked, “Do you want to have your tooth after we remove it?” I thought that an odd question and said, “Why would I possibly want to have the tooth?” She laughed and said, “Believe it or not, many people want to keep their tooth after is it removed.” She went on to say that her friend’s husband works for a veterinarian and people sometimes ask to keep their dog’s testicles after they get spayed. Again, I asked, “Why?!” She shrugged and said, “I have no idea.” So, why would someone want to keep a rotting tooth (hence it being yanked from your mouth) or your dog’s testicles? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/2 "2010-03-06T16:55:42Z")
In some cases, superstition. A tooth is a part of you, and as such, can be used to attach hexes, curses, and jinxes to you. It’s the same reason some people burn their hair and nail clippings. In others, people just think it’s nifty to have something that came out of your body around. Of course you’re going to get different answers from different people. As for the dog testicle thing, I have no clue. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/3 "2010-03-06T17:27:13Z")
A little garlic butter, a side of pasta… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/4 "2010-03-06T17:31:03Z")
I had a g/f who kept her wisdom teeth – at least one of them, anyway. She had it made into an earring. (FWIW, she listened to NIN while it was being extracted.) ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/5 "2010-03-06T17:37:59Z")
It’s probably just curiosity that makes people want to keep such things. I had a science teacher in high school who asked to see some organ (I think it was the appendix, but I’m not sure) after the surgery to remove it. They brought it out for him in a little jar. Of course that teacher also asked if he could get local anesthesia so he could watch them do the surgery :eek:. They didn’t do that. On preview: > [@elbows](#): > > A little garlic butter, a side of pasta… If I had been drinking something you would have owed me a new monitor. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/6 "2010-03-06T18:01:52Z")
I meant to ask to keep my gall stones but I was in such pain before the surgery I forgot. I was thinking maybe a tasteful pendant… ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/7 "2010-03-06T19:39:47Z")
I wouldn’t want to keep anything that was removed from me (where would you put something like that? On the mantle?) But, I’d love to see an organ that was removed. Actually, I’d love to dissect my own organs. That would be cool. I should mention that I’m not superstitious about my body parts, not even slightly. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/8 "2010-03-06T20:25:01Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > I meant to ask to keep my gall stones but I was in such pain before the surgery I forgot. I was thinking maybe a tasteful pendant… Mine were brown and not the least bit round. In fact they looked like D&D dice. I swear one was a 4 sider. No wonder they were causing pain. They had corners. Really not pendant quality. Although maybe yours were better looking. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/9 "2010-03-07T01:36:40Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > I meant to ask to keep my gall stones but I was in such pain before the surgery I forgot. I was thinking maybe a tasteful pendant… Mom kept her gall stones. I thought it was strange. But, the nurse informed me that most patients keep them. I think there’s a feeling of 'Ha! You’re out! I beat you!" mixed with “See how tough I am. I endured months of pain from these.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/10 "2010-03-07T01:40:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I had a g/f who kept her wisdom teeth I’d have kept mine, but they were twisted strangely, so they had to be broken into a million pieces to get them out. Not sure what I’d have done with them… Can’t say why I’d have kept them…I just think it’d be neat. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/11 "2010-03-07T01:44:52Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Mine were brown and not the least bit round. In fact they looked like D&D dice. I swear one was a 4 sider. No wonder they were causing pain. They had corners. > > Really not pendant quality. Although maybe yours were better looking. Sigh. I guess I’ll never know. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/12 "2010-03-07T02:03:58Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Of course that teacher also asked if he could get local anesthesia so he could watch them do the surgery :eek:. They didn’t do that. I had a cyst removed from my back, once. I regretted not bringing a video camera, so they gave me a hand-mirror so I could watch. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/13 "2010-03-07T02:12:44Z")
Of course I’d keep my tooth. How is the Tooth Fairy going to pay me if it isn’t safely under my pillow that night? ETA: I just had a mole removed from my neck (by my fiancee, in the kitchen). It is swimming happily in a jar of alcohol on my desk right this moment. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/14 "2010-03-07T02:14:44Z")
I may just be a weirdo, but I’m one of them anthropology types, and I find teeth pretty fascinating. It’s cool to see them on a skull, because it gives you an entirely new perspective. Of course, I don’t get to see my OWN teeth like this, so the best I can do is keep them after they’re removed. Though unfortunately I forgot to ask to keep my wisdom teeth, so they discarded them. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Baggins111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@Baggins111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baggins111)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/15 "2010-03-07T02:50:36Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > A little garlic butter, a side of pasta… Winner ---
**Author:** ![MerryGreenleaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@MerryGreenleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryGreenleaf)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/16 "2010-03-07T03:00:22Z")
You’re suppose to keep a tooth so that you can put it under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy! I don’t know if there’s a Testicle Fairy though…:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/17 "2010-03-07T03:09:08Z")
> [@MerryGreenleaf](#): > > You’re suppose to keep a tooth so that you can put it under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy! > > I don’t know if there’s a Testicle Fairy though…:eek: The Tooth Fairy just puts money under your pillow. The Testicle Ferry puts it in a little sack first. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/18 "2010-03-07T04:44:14Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I had to have a tooth extracted yesterday. > Before the procedure, the assistant asked, “Do you want to have your tooth after we remove it?” > I thought that an odd question and said, “Why would I possibly want to have the tooth?” > She laughed and said, “Believe it or not, many people want to keep their tooth after is it removed.” > She went on to say that her friend’s husband works for a veterinarian and people sometimes ask to keep their dog’s testicles after they get spayed. > Again, I asked, “Why?!” > She shrugged and said, “I have no idea.” > > So, why would someone want to keep a rotting tooth (hence it being yanked from your mouth) or your dog’s testicles? You won’t get too many testicles from a spay procedure. That’s an ovariohysterectomy (ovaries and uterus removed). Removing testicles is neutering or more specifically castration. And I haven’t had anyone ask for their pet’s testicles ever in the past 27 years. I have had someone ask for their cat’s claws but once it was explained that they still have tissue attached they changed their mind. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/19 "2010-03-07T04:49:12Z")
I meant ‘Fairy’ in my last; not ‘Ferry’. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534/20 "2010-03-07T06:34:15Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > A little garlic butter, a side of pasta… In Spain you can get bull-testicle tapas. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-your-tooth-and-your-dogs-testicles/531534.md?page=2)