Does individual teeth has to be perfect to become a pilot? i.e cavity or other problem.?

Question

Does individual teeth has to be perfect to become a pilot? i.e cavity or other problem.?

Answer 1

that`s one thing i haven`t see yet is a toothless pilot.

Answer 2

No your teeth don't matter

Answer 3

Your teeth will not be considered in the aviation medical exam process, though there may be some questions if your teeth are particularly dirty or you have visible cavities.

In the hiring process for professional pilots, personal appearance is an important factor, and bad teeth will work against you in the hiring selection process.

But the main thing is that you need to take care of your teeth for your overall general health and wellbeing.  If you have had trouble forming good dental self-care habits, you can still make those changes.  It's never too late.

Answer 4

Yes!  They don't have to be pretty, although it's nice, but they must be healthy and sound.  Barodontalgia, once referred to as 'Flyers Toothache" is a not uncommon tooth pain occurring with changes in ambient pressure.

Change in pressure altitude can cause simple discomfort to be excruciating as described in these two sites.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/87646...

http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-71/issue-...

The worst case scenario however is in the event of RD, Rapid Decompression.  See, Dental fractures on acute exposure to high altitude, http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/as...

These events are rare but have occurred, as low as an 18,000 ft RD, in defective fillings, deep secondary caries or toot canals.  Because, hgh-altitude RD and subsequent, hard-tissue tooth fracture is a rare event, few flight surgeons or dentists are familiar with the potential.

However in the event of an RD the last thing you need is to be debilitated by severe tooth trauma.  Regular dental examinations with careful assessment of previous dental restorations should be mandatory for aircrew subject to decompression.  

I'm surprised at the answers indicating it was only cosmetic or hygiene.  Perhaps the military is more aware of it because of the nature of the mission.

Answer 5

A dental exam is not part of the pilot medical requirements.

However, a nice smile is always an asset.