A paper featured in this issue of the BDJ looks at the unusual issue of flight-related oral conditions and treatment. Aviation dentistry: current concepts and practice by Dr Yehuda Zadik aims to introduce the concepts of aviation (aerospace) medicine and dentistry to a wider audience. Data looks at head and facial barotraumas (barotrauma-related headache, external otitic barotrauma, barosinusitis and barotitis-media), dental barotrauma (barometric pressure-related tooth injury), barodontalgia (barometric pressure-related oro-dental pain), and dental care for aircrews.

Dr Zadik says the reason he decided to look at the subject matter in depth was because of his experiences working in the Israeli Air Force (IAF). 'When I served in the IAF as head of the dental clinic of Ramon Airbase and later of Palmachim Airbase, I had several occasions on which I did not find answers for clinical dilemmas regarding dental treatments of aircrews in the literature or in relevant textbooks and so I decided to study this field.

'I participated in the IAF advanced training in aviation medicine, published several works on barodontalgia, dental barotraumas and bruxism in aircrew members, and together with Dr Shmuel Einy wrote the chapter on aviation dentistry in the IAF Aviation Medicine Textbook.'

Dr Zadik added that flight-related dental conditions were a major concern during the 1940s. In World War II, numerous dental studies were conducted in altitude-chamber simulations and during in-flight observations and there was a even a speciality programme in aviation dentistry offered in the US.

He continues, 'Since then, the prevalence of flight-related oral manifestations has declined, but not disappeared, due to partial pressurisation of aeroplanes' cabins as well as significant improvement in dental techniques and the general population's oral health, leading to decline in the scientific and clinical interest in this field. However, a renewed interest has occurred in the last two decades as studies and reports mainly from the UK, USA, Canada, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel have been published. Moreover, earlier this year Dr Leon Dychter, Dr Estrella Forster and other dental practitioners founded the International Association of Aerospace Dentistry (IAAD). The new Association will have, for the first time, a scientific panel, entitled Dentistry in Aviation, during the next Aerospace Medical Association Annual Meeting which will take place in Los Angeles (May 3-7, 2009).'