ORAL HEALTH IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS: A GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGE

Abstract

Dentistry has traditionally evolved within controlled clinical environments, where prevention, diagnosis, and treatment follow predictable patterns. However, the growing presence of human activity in extreme settings—such as Antarctica, outer space analogs, and other isolated ecosystems—challenges conventional paradigms of oral healthcare. These environments expose individuals to unique combinations of physiological stress, environmental adversity, and behavioral disruption, transforming oral health into a critical yet often overlooked component of overall health and operational performance.

The Antarctic region represents one of the most demanding natural laboratories for studying human adaptation. Characterized by subzero temperatures, low humidity, high ultraviolet radiation, and prolonged isolation, this environment induces complex systemic responses affecting metabolism, immunity, and neuroendocrine regulation. While these systemic effects have been widely documented, oral health has historically received limited attention, despite its well-established connection to systemic conditions and quality of life.