Gnatho-Postural Treatment in an Air Force Pilot

Baldini A, Tecco S, Cioffi D, Rinaldi A, Longoni S. Gnatho-postural treatment in an air force pilot. Aviat Space Environ Med 2012; 83:522–6.Background: Due to the stresses of flight, air force pilots are more likely to experience oral parafunctions such as bruxism when compared to the general population. Further, their craniocervical mandibular system is subjected to particular stresses in the course of their duties. The aim of this study was to analyze an air force pilot who was undergoing gnatho-postural treatment in order to protect the masticatory system and achieve better occlusal balance. Case Report: A 32-yr-old pilot from the Italian Air Force national aerobatic team P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori was chosen from the pilots analyzed and treated at the Istituto Medico Legale A. Mosso. A resin stabilization splint was designed for the pilot's lower arch, allowing for the unobstructed excursive glides of the mandible in the protrusive position, and laterality and occlusal balance in the centric position. Discussion: The clinical gnatho-postural treatment involving a functional diagnostic instrument used on Italian Air Force pilots protects the masticatory system from dental abrasion and, in this particular case, seemed to improve the pilot's posture control system as analyzed by the stabilometric platform.