My next medical

I think you are thinking of trapped gas after fillings are put in teeth.
In this case the air can't be readily reabsorbed and might expand at
altitude. After an extraction, any "gas" (air) would be reabsorbed
through the surrounding soft tissues and/or bone.

Jim Macklin wrote:

trapped gas pockets.

No, that is one possible reason with a filling, but surgery
and extractions can heal over leaving an abscess and that
could be a very painful problem. When my wisdom teeth were
removed, the roots actually penetrated the sinus cavities.
For several weeks I could have salt water run through from
my mouth to my nose by dipping my head. This was not a
problem flying, it was even more venting. But I would want
to have a flight test before I was the only pilot on the
plane.

Gas would be reabsorbed if enough time passed, but if there
was any gas it would expand during a climb faster than it
would be absorbed, think the bends.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

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"RomeoMike" wrote in message
...
|I think you are thinking of trapped gas after fillings are
put in teeth.
| In this case the air can't be readily reabsorbed and
might expand at
| altitude. After an extraction, any "gas" (air) would be
reabsorbed
| through the surrounding soft tissues and/or bone.
|
| Jim Macklin wrote:
|
| trapped gas pockets.

An abscess is one thing, trapped air another. You were referring to the
latter in your first post. Any trapped air from an extraction is going
to be long gone by the time one is fit to fly after multiple extractions
requiring the use of post op pain meds and a recuperation period.
Situation not similar to the bends at all. No gas is coming out of solution.

Jim Macklin wrote:
No, that is one possible reason with a filling, but surgery
and extractions can heal over leaving an abscess and that
could be a very painful problem. When my wisdom teeth were
removed, the roots actually penetrated the sinus cavities.
For several weeks I could have salt water run through from
my mouth to my nose by dipping my head. This was not a
problem flying, it was even more venting. But I would want
to have a flight test before I was the only pilot on the
plane.

Gas would be reabsorbed if enough time passed, but if there
was any gas it would expand during a climb faster than it
would be absorbed, think the bends.

OK, you're right, no possible way tissue can heal over and
create a pocket, trapping air/gas in the jaw. All pilots
should plan on taking their wife and kids [husband or
significant other too] on their first flight as soon as they
feel good a week after the surgery. No need to a "test
flight" to check for any pain in flight.

The bends is gas in solution coming out of the tissue/blood
faster than it can be exhaled. Of course, bacteria in a
closed pocket might be producing gas at a rate that is
absorbed and exhaled , but that evolved gas would expand
with altitude. But you're right, no possible reason to make
a comparison.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"RomeoMike" wrote in message
...
| An abscess is one thing, trapped air another. You were
referring to the
| latter in your first post. Any trapped air from an
extraction is going
| to be long gone by the time one is fit to fly after
multiple extractions
| requiring the use of post op pain meds and a recuperation
period.
| Situation not similar to the bends at all. No gas is
coming out of solution.
|
| Jim Macklin wrote:
| No, that is one possible reason with a filling, but
surgery
| and extractions can heal over leaving an abscess and
that
| could be a very painful problem. When my wisdom teeth
were
| removed, the roots actually penetrated the sinus
cavities.
| For several weeks I could have salt water run through
from
| my mouth to my nose by dipping my head. This was not a
| problem flying, it was even more venting. But I would
want
| to have a flight test before I was the only pilot on the
| plane.
|
| Gas would be reabsorbed if enough time passed, but if
there
| was any gas it would expand during a climb faster than
it
| would be absorbed, think the bends.
|
|

Jim Macklin wrote:
OK, you're right, no possible way tissue can heal over and
create a pocket, trapping air/gas in the jaw.

I know you're trying to be facetious but that is correct...by the time
that wound is healed any gas is gone, not that there really would have
been much gas in there anyway because that hole gets filled in by
clotted blood and fibrin and starts to organize before the gum is healed
shut. Any gas got absorbed. The body just doesn't allow an empty
air-filled space to persist with rare exception.




The bends is gas in solution coming out of the tissue/blood
faster than it can be exhaled.

Certainly not the situation in this scenario.



Of course, bacteria in a
closed pocket might be producing gas at a rate that is
absorbed and exhaled , but that evolved gas would expand
with altitude. But you're right, no possible reason to make
a comparison.

Most infections are not gas producing. The ones that are cause life
threatening illness. You'll be too sick to even think about flying.
Probably if you even have a non-gas-producing infection in a closed
pocket (called an abscess) you will not feel like flying. You would
likely be in pain.