If you frequently travel by plane or had a hobby of diving, you should diligently check your teeth to the dentist, so as not to hit barodontalgia.
Barodontalgia is a phenomenon whereby a person experiences a toothache at the moment is at a height such as when flying or diving at a certain depth beneath the sea. This phenomenon has become known since World War II, where the crew were attacked by toothache during flight. However, this phenomenon was also found in the divers, and then note the pressure difference plays an important role in this incident.
Boyle’s law remember? At a certain temperature, the volume of gas varies inversely with pressure. Scuba diving is increasingly popular. When someone dive deeper into the seabed, the water pressure received greater diver, and the volume of gas in a closed body cavity is reduced, eg in the ear canal teeth and sinuses. When the diver to rise to the surface, reduced atmospheric pressure, the gas trapped in the teeth to expand and stimulate the nerve nosiseptor teeth, and causing pain.
Similarly, when in flight, air pressure decreases, and gas volume increases. The problem is dental hard tissues and can not expand / extend. If there was an increased volume of gas inside the cavity of the teeth, dental hard tissue does not participate expands to match the outside pressure, so that the gas pressure and stimulates the nerves of teeth. This happens at pulpitis teeth (caries in), which occur tooth decay by bacteria that produce gas. In addition the trapped gas can also be formed under the patch is not good / neat / experienced leaks, where there is air trapped between the tooth and filling material, or in filling root canals that are not hermetic. Abscesses and periapical cysts (in the root tip of tooth) is also often associated with barodontalgia. This phenomenon began to occur at an altitude of about 3000 m above sea level where air pressure of about 0.75 atmosphere, or at a depth of 10 m below the sea where the water pressure of about 1 atmosphere.
International Dental Federation suggested to the pilots and divers went to the dentist regularly. The most important is the maintenance of good oral hygiene, to avoid barodontalgia. Patients are also advised not to fly or dive for 24 hours after dental treatment requiring anesthesia or during the 7 days after dental surgery. Despite the relatively low prevalence barodontalgia incident, the dentist should not underestimate this phenomenon because it can cause potentially fatal for the patient. Dentists who accept a patient with suspicion barodontalgia should examine whether the restoration of existing tooth is still in good quality or have suffered damage / leakage. Dentists also need to conduct screening tests caries and percussion on the suspected dental and radiographic examination if necessary. The selection of materials to be used as a restoration are also important, as well as making the best possible restoration to avoid leaks / failure of restoration.
Tags: barodontalgia, Caries, Dental Caries, dental diseases, dental surgery, Dentist, toothache