During an interview with Mario Pergolini on the program ‘Otro día perdido’, Argentine musician Fito Páez revealed that he had seven teeth extracted in his youth to avoid mandatory military service.
Páez explained that after being declared fit for service during initial medical examinations, he attempted to alter his physical condition by not eating for two weeks, which proved unsuccessful. Seeking a definitive way to be exempted, he researched medical criteria and discovered that loss of masticatory surface could qualify an individual for exemption due to physical deficiencies.
To achieve this, the singer underwent dental extractions at makeshift dental stations in Buenos Aires, removing four teeth in one session and three in another within 48 hours. He described the process as painful and difficult, noting that he eventually presented himself for a third medical review in Paraná to secure his exemption.