What impact can space have on our teeth? Balwant Rai explains how a fascination with space and dentistry lead him to study the effects of the space environment on the oral cavity
Ever since my childhood, I’ve loved watching the stars.
I’ve always wondered about their existence and dreamed of becoming an astronaut. When I became a dentist, I decided that I wanted to find out more about the relation between space and my profession.
I set out to conduct experiments in the field of simulated space environments and medicine, and I have been lucky enough to conduct experiments in simulated microgravity, and in simulated environments similar to Mars.
My experiments have revealed that the possible effects of a simulated space mission on the oral cavity can include oedema of the face, changes in taste perception, abnormal facial expressions, tooth pain, xerostomia, periodontal disease, dental caries, the formation of stones in the salivary duct, precancer or cancer, and fracture of the maxillary and mandibular bones (Rai and Kaur, 2011).
Big bang
In India, when my career was just beginning, I saw many patients die from cancer, neurological diseases, and other chronic disorders. I started out in dentistry with the aim of learning how to treat patients with low-cost or domicillary technology – especially those patients in developing countries, or who cannot afford treatment.
Working as a dentist gave me the idea of combining my two areas of interest – dentistry and the universe – into one discipline. From there, I started to think about developing a new branch of science: aeronautic dentistry, related to dental care and space travel.
Dental science gives a basic idea of the changes that occur in the oral cavity in hostile environments, and combining it with space science made me think of conducting experiments in a new area: the effect of extraterrestrial environments on the human body (including the oral cavity) and the management and prevention of these adverse environmental effects.
I designed the first college course in aeronautic dentistry in 2006, and have conducted several experiments in simulated microgravity and space conditions.
Galaxy quest
Aeronautic dentistry is searching for answers to the following problems:
1. How to manage if an astronaut has an abscess, tooth fracture or oral cavity during a mission
2. How an astronaut can maintain proper oral hygiene during extraterrestrial missions, including the mission to Mars
3. The effect of extraterrestrial environments on the oral cavity
4. Whether normal dental procedures are applicable during a mission, and if not, whether we modify these procedures for a space mission, or find new technologies for treatment?
It also tries to standardise dental procedures for extraterrestrial environments or space missions by addressing three issues:
1. Establishing the effect of extraterrestrial environments on the oral cavity
2. Establishing what interventional procedures are applicable during a mission
3. Establishing new technologies (or modifying existing ones), and training a selected crew member on the space shuttle, International Space Station (ISS) long missions, moon missions and other extraterrestrial missions.
In this way, we can standardise the dental protocols for extraterrestrial human missions, and prevent dental emergencies and postoperative complications.
One aeronautic dentist now has to be included on space missions to standardise these procedures.
Knowledge gained from extraterrestrial environmental studies can be used to develop new technologies and procedures that will not only benefit future space exploration, but life on earth as well! ID
References
Rai B, Kaur J (2011) The history and importance of aeronautic dentistry. J Oral Sci 53(2):143-6
Look out for Balwant Rai’s clinical article on aeronautic dentistry in Irish Dentistry’s January issue!
Balwant Rai is a leading expert in aeronautic and space dentistry. He developed the first college course in aeronautic dentistry in 2006, and has since conducted several experiments under microgravity conditions. His studies mainly focus on the effects of microgravity on the human body. Balwant has published many articles on aeronautic dentistry, and he was selected for crew 78 in the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) as health and safety officer and crew 100B as commander, emergency physician and biomedical scientist. Contact him at raibalwant29@rediffmail.com.
