Flyer’s Toothache
DENTAL NEWS, VOLUME XIII, NUMBER III, 2006 Flyer’s Toothache By Dr. Alaa Awadallah (dralaa5@yahoo.com) Dentist, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Deocampo Memorial College, Philippines. Senior Dentist, Qatar Armed Forces Once referred to as "flyer's toothache," barodontalgia is defined as tooth pain occurring with changes in ambient pressure. It usually occurs in people who fly or dive. It can develop in conjunction with sinusitis, and in teeth experiencing pulpitis after restorative treatment, new and recurrent caries, intra-treatment endodontic symptoms, dental and periodontal cysts, or abscesses. Although the causal process of barodontalgia is not well understood, it may be related to pulpal hyperemia, or to gases that are trapped in the teeth following incomplete root canal treatment. Patients who are frequently exposed to changes in ambient pressure should be encouraged to follow good oral health practices, attend regularly- scheduled den...