Yes. There has been some confusion about whether or not teeth that have been extracted in the dental office can be given back to the patient. The confusion stems from the working of the Occuptional, Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) guidlines for handling and disposing of medical waste.

It was unclear whether an extracted tooth was considered medical waste.

However, OSHA chief, Joseph Dear, has gone on record as saying "OSHA has not banned the tooth fairy; dentists can give children their extracted teeth."