Barodontalgia, or “tooth squeeze,” is dental pain that occurs in response to a change in ambient pressure. It is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying issue within a tooth. The pain arises when the pressure inside a tooth cannot equalize with the surrounding environmental pressure, leading to discomfort that can range from mild to severe.
The Science of Pressure-Related Tooth Pain
The physical principle governing barodontalgia is Boyle’s Law, which describes the relationship between gas pressure and volume. This law states that as surrounding pressure decreases, a gas expands, and as pressure increases, it contracts. A small amount of air can become trapped within a tooth due to various dental problems. When external pressure changes, this trapped gas expands or contracts, and because the tooth cannot flex, the pressure is exerted on the tooth’s sensitive pulp and nerve, resulting in pain.
Underlying Dental Conditions
Several pre-existing dental conditions can create the enclosed spaces where air becomes trapped. The most common cause is tooth decay, where cavities form voids. Dental restorations like fillings or crowns that are faulty, leaking, or not perfectly sealed can also leave microscopic gaps that harbor air.
Other issues can be responsible for the pain, including an abscess at the root of a tooth, a cracked tooth, or complications following a recent dental procedure. Sometimes, pain from the sinuses due to pressure changes, known as barosinusitis, can be mistaken for barodontalgia. This referred pain originates from inflamed sinus cavities, not a problem within the tooth itself.
Common Triggers and At-Risk Groups
The primary triggers for barodontalgia are activities involving rapid changes in ambient pressure. Flying is a frequent cause, with pain often occurring during ascent and descent. Scuba diving is another trigger, as divers experience pressure shifts as they descend and return to the surface. The use of hyperbaric oxygen chambers for medical treatment can also induce the condition.
Certain professions and recreational groups are more susceptible to this dental pain. At-risk groups include pilots, flight crews, frequent flyers, military aviation personnel, and both professional and recreational scuba divers.
Diagnosis and Management
Diagnosing barodontalgia involves an examination by a dental professional. A dentist will assess the teeth, take dental X-rays, and discuss the patient’s symptoms and recent activities that triggered the pain. X-rays can help identify underlying problems such as hidden decay, abscesses, or flawed restorations that might be trapping air.
The most effective way to manage and prevent barodontalgia is to address the root dental cause. Treatment is specific to the diagnosed problem and may involve replacing a defective filling, fitting a new crown, or performing a root canal.
While over-the-counter pain relievers may provide temporary relief, they do not solve the fundamental problem. The pain will likely recur with the next exposure to a significant pressure change, so seeking professional dental care is the only definitive solution.