Does microgravity effect on oral and maxillofacial region?

Abstract

Since the beginning of the era of space travel, there have been mentions of related health effects. Various studies have described the effect of space travel and microgravity on health. Some of these studies involved short and extended follow-ups of the effect of microgravity on the head and neck of astronauts. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the oral and maxillofacial health effects associated with this sophisticated mission. It is essential to identify relevant problems and address microgravity complications. Humans have long dreamed of flying and in recent years, the dream has evolved to exploring space and creating new habitats on other planets such as Mars. This led to an increase in the need for dental treatment of the flight crew members, which led to the creation of aviation dentistry for the screening and treatment of the oral cavity of the flight crew. We are moving towards a more conservative approach than before, such as removing pulpless teeth in aircrew patients or extracting roots that had a fracture or incomplete extraction. With all the advancements in aerospace knowledge, the aviation dentistry has rarely or briefly been discussed in dental textbooks. Dentists must screen each flight crew member thoroughly and impose flight restrictions and ground them if necessary; the reasons will be discussed later within this paper. It is the duty of dentists and surgeons to notify their patients (aircrew members) about the postoperative flight consequences and restrictions.

Applications for oral research in microgravity – lessons learned from burning mouth syndrome and ageing studies

“…The loss of mineral bone density, sleep troubles, and stress due to microgravity affects the temporomandibular joint. During simulated Mars missions, disturbances at the masticatory muscle level have been reported, with increased stiffness observed during space travel [ 10 ].…”

Oral Health in Zero Gravity: A Comprehensive Review of Orofacial Effects and Countermeasures in Spaceflights

“…The ability of osteoblasts to proliferate, differentiate, and react to stimuli is diminished, leading to bone loss. Researchers believe bone deposition and resorption changes due to the reduced blood and plasma volume experienced during a space flight [ 5 ].…”

“…This process is medically referred to as odontocrexsis (tooth + explode). According to Calder and Ramsey, subpar dental restorations, whether or not accompanied by cavities, pose a risk of dental injury [ 5 ].…”

“…TMDs are associated with the disruption in cortisol regulation and melatonin secretion. Probably, the heightened activation of the stress hormone system due to conscious pain perception provides an explanation for these phenomena [ 5 ]. Long-term stressful conditions and mental illnesses cause occlusal parafunction, like bruxism, which might lead to temporomandibular disorders.…”

“…The oral and maxillofacial region is not immune to the effects of space travel. Studies have reported incidences of dental cavities, periodontal diseases, oro-maxillofacial fractures, pain, sensory abnormalities in the teeth and oral mucosa, salivary gland stone formation (sialoliths), craniomandibular joint disorders, masticatory muscle atrophy, and oral cancer in astronauts [4][5][6]. Evaluating, preventing, and managing these effects in the oral cavity is essential to improve astronauts' quality of life during and after a space flight.…”