Prevalence of barodontalgia in military pilots of the Brazilian Air Force

Abstract

Introduction: Barodontalgia refers to the painful condition affecting previously asymptomatic teeth and periodontal tissues, caused by changes in atmospheric pressure during flight. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of barodontalgia in Brazilian Air Force (FAB) pilots. Materials and Methods: An exploratory study was carried out, with a convenience sample, made up of military pilots, regardless of age group and type of aircraft, using a structured questionnaire and descriptive analysis of the data. Results: 141 pilots participated; men; 37.3 ± 3.6 years; 40.6% were transport pilots, 14.1% fighter, 9.4% rotary wing, and 35.8% Instruction/Demonstration. The prevalence of barodontalgia was 12.8% (18 occurrences). Three missions were interrupted. Regarding knowledge of barodontalgia, 56 (39.7%) reported regular knowledge and 21 (15%) declared they had no knowledge on the subject. Conclusions: It is concluded that the prevalence of barodontalgia in Brazilian military pilots is higher than the values reported by some air forces of developed countries, already indicating the need for a more in-depth look at the oral health of FAB military personnel.